Australia’s prime minister has unveiled plans to decarbonise the country’s economy by 2050, while insisting it would not phase out the production or use of polluting fossil fuels.
Outlining a policy document just days ahead of the UN climate summit in Glasgow, Prime Minister Scott Morrison committed Australia to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, bowing to international pressure and following a host of developed and emerging economies that have already done so.
However, the plan also made clear that Australia would continue its reliance on fossil fuels, to the dismay of green groups which say phasing them out is key to credible decarbonisation goals.