Australia's Opposition Drops Net‑Zero 2050 Target, Prioritises Energy Affordability

Australia's Opposition Drops Net‑Zero 2050 Target

Australia's centre‑right opposition announced on Thursday it will remove its commitment to reach net‑zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 if it returns to government — a significant shift for a country that remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels while facing acute climate risks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre‑left government has invested billions in solar, wind and green manufacturing and is pursuing ambitious emissions cuts and a bid to co‑host next year's UN climate summit with Pacific Island neighbours. The government has pledged to reduce emissions by up to 70% from 2005 levels over the next decade.

The Liberal Party had been debating whether to keep the net‑zero by 2050 pledge, first introduced in 2021 by former prime minister Scott Morrison. Liberal leader Sussan Ley confirmed the party will drop the target if it regains power, ending weeks of internal dispute. She said the party remains committed to "responding to climate change in a way that is affordable, responsible and achievable."

"Net zero would be welcome," Ley added, "but the target should be achieved without heavy government intervention." Instead, she said her party will prioritise energy affordability over new government‑led climate mandates. The Nationals, the Liberals' coalition partners, voted earlier to abandon their own net‑zero‑by‑2050 commitment; the two parties will meet to agree a joint position.

'Climate wars' redux

Australia's long‑running domestic fight over emissions policy — often dubbed the "climate wars" — has hindered steady progress and left the economy closely tied to fossil fuel industries. The country is the world's second‑largest coal exporter, holds the third‑largest coal reserves, and continues to provide public subsidies to fossil fuel production. Iron ore, produced through emissions‑intensive mining, remains Australia's most valuable export by value.

Prime Minister Albanese criticised the opposition for "walking away from climate action" and warned the decision also risks "walking away from reliable and affordable energy." A government climate impact report released in September warned that rising seas and flooding could threaten the homes and livelihoods of more than one million Australians by 2050, while deaths from heat‑related illness are expected to rise.

James Hopeward of the University of South Australia called the reversal "a catastrophic failure to acknowledge both climate science and energy system dynamics," arguing the shift ignores the broader momentum toward renewable energy.

Environmental groups also sounded the alarm. Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, said abandoning the net‑zero pledge would amount to "deadly negligence" that could expose Australians to more severe fires, floods and heatwaves. She warned that rolling back targets threatens to undo progress made in recent years.

Other public health and environmental indicators underline the risks: Australia records one of the highest skin cancer rates worldwide, with official data estimating nearly 19,000 melanoma diagnoses in 2024, underscoring the country's vulnerability to intense sunlight and heat.

The change in opposition policy sets up a clear political contrast ahead of the next federal contest: a government pushing hard on decarbonisation and a coalition emphasising cost and market‑led solutions to energy and climate challenges.

Reporting note: quotes and figures are drawn from party statements, government reports and expert commentary disclosed at the time of publication.