Nationals formally abandon commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050

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🗞️ Driving the news: Australia’s National Party has formally withdrawn its support for achieving net zero emissions by 2050, in a unanimous party room decision
• The move signals a major shift in the Coalition’s climate stance and presents a political challenge for the Liberal Party, which must now decide whether to align or risk fracturing the conservative bloc
• Nationals leader David Littleproud proposed a reduced emissions target pegged to the OECD average and emphasised a pivot toward climate adaptation, citing economic strain in regional Australia

🔭 The context: The Nationals initially backed net zero under former leader Barnaby Joyce in 2021, as part of a deal with then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison
• That consensus unravelled after the Coalition’s defeat in the 2022 election
• A party-aligned review led by Senators Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell concluded that the net zero pledge “no longer serves the interests of the Australian people,” citing energy cost inflation and disproportionate impacts on rural and low-income communities
• The review argued for a reorientation toward affordability, energy security, and sovereignty

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Abandoning net zero undermines Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and weakens global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C
• The decision also jeopardises momentum in clean energy investment and emissions reduction—especially in rural regions that have begun benefitting from renewable energy projects
• While adaptation is critical, deprioritising mitigation in favour of short-term economic relief risks exacerbating future climate risks
• Australia's own national climate risk assessment warns that inaction could expose 1.5 million people to sea-level rise and double heat-related deaths in major cities

⏭️ What's next: The Liberal Party is expediting its energy policy review to respond to the Nationals' departure from net zero
• Whether Opposition Leader Sussan Ley maintains the current 2050 target or adopts the Nationals’ stance will shape the Coalition’s election platform and influence investor confidence
• The Nationals have called for repealing the Climate Change Act, lifting bans on nuclear energy, and re-opening the Emissions Reduction Fund to coal and gas — a platform likely to spark heated debate ahead of COP30 and the next federal election

💬 One quote: “We the National Party have found our voice today,” said Senator Matt Canavan, celebrating the formal withdrawal from the net zero commitment

📈 One stat: A YouGov poll of 5,007 Australians found that 50% of former Coalition voters who switched parties in the last election said they would not support a party without a credible climate policy

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