(AU ABC News) Scott Morrison To Attend COP26 Climate Change Conference In Glasgow, No Decision On Net Zero

 ABC News - Georgia Hitch

Scott Morrison has announced he will travel to Glasgow for the COP26 conference. 1min 26sec

Key Points It was unclear whether Mr Morrison or another government representative would go to the conference Prince Charles and other world leaders had urged him to attend in person The government has still not struck a deal on whether Australia will commit to a net zero emissions target by 2050

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed he will attend the United Nations COP26 international climate conference in Glasgow in November.

The announcement followed weeks of uncertainty about whether or not he would go in person, and ongoing negotiations with the National Party about committing to net zero emission by 2050.

Mr Morrison said the government's position on net zero would be outlined before he left for the conference.

"It is an important event," he said.

"The government will be finalising its position to take to the summit.

"We're working through those issues with our colleagues and I look forward to those discussions over the next couple of weeks."

His decision to join global leaders in Glasgow is his strongest indication yet that the government is likely to adopt the target.

Earlier this year, Mr Morrison said the government's goal was to reach net zero as soon as possible, "preferably" by 2050.

The Prime Minister had been urged to attend the conference by other world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden — who are both attending.

Why do some Nationals fear
net zero by 2050?

Not for the first time, the 21 members of the Nationals party-room find themselves as the centre of Australia's climate change debate, with some adamant to refuse a net zero target regardless of what policy is behind it. Read more

More recently, Prince Charles also joined the calls, saying Mr Morrison and other world leaders should be there in person, describing it as a "last chance saloon" to save the planet.

A draft plan to meet the net zero target was put to Cabinet during the week.

The next step is for it to go through both the Liberal and National party rooms separately, before a joint meeting of both the party rooms before it is formally adopted.

The plan may also outline an interim 2030 emissions target as well.

The Nationals party room will meet on Sunday to discuss the target, with some senior members flagging they want assurances the plan will not come at the cost of jobs in regional Australia.

Climate policy has continued to be a contentious issue for the Nationals, with a handful of MPs, mainly Queenslanders, publicly adamant they will never support the target.

The government's plan on emissions reduction targets will be discussed by both the Liberal and Nationals party rooms next week. (ABC News: Michael Barnett)

But there are many others who are at least opening to consider net zero, as are some of the major advocacy groups for key Nationals constituents.

Both the Minerals Council and the National Farmer's Federation support Australia moving to a net zero economy by the middle of the century.

The Glasgow conference runs from October 30 until November 12.

Unlike previous overseas trips, Mr Morrison will not have to quarnatine on his return, after New South Wales announced it would scrap quarantine for fully vaccinated Australian travellers from November 1.

Links

• Why do some Nationals still fear signing on to net zero by 2050?
• Coalition promising 'great future' for coal and gas as Cabinet considers net zero plan
• Josh Frydenberg publicly backs 2050 net zero emissions target, Barnaby Joyce gives tacit support
• (AU SBS) Queensland Backs Net Zero By 2050 As Pressure Mounts On Scott Morrison
• (AU AFR) Australia’s Business Leaders Tell PM How To Hit Net Zero By 2050
• (AU The Age) ‘Do More’: COP26 President Urges Morrison To Make Climate Top Priority
• (CNN) Australia's Climate Policy Is Being Dictated By A Former Accountant In A Cowboy Hat