Bold Leadership! Scott Morrison Unveils Net-Zero Carbon Target In 2050, Or 2070, Or Whenever
Scott Morrison has made a big pledge to Australians about cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but there is one thing missing: a deadline. The Prime Minister says it is "absolutely achievable" for Australia to reach net zero emissions, but will not put a hard date on that goal.His best estimate is it will happen in the second half of this century – in other words, a window of five decades to try to deliver an outcome.
His caution on this question is understandable, because he has seen political careers torched over climate change, but it undermines his talk about fixing the country’s energy mess.
Australians have seen over a decade that nothing happens on climate change without real political commitment. Over the past week, Morrison has outlined a huge expansion in gas and an increase in spending on renewables, with the promise that he can keep energy prices down, improve reliability and reduce emissions. But a target without a deadline is not much of a target at all.
The political wedge is obvious: Morrison sets up a contrast with Labor leader Anthony Albanese, who has committed to net zero by 2050. The economy would still produce carbon emissions, but would offset them with reductions elsewhere.
EDIT
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/an-emissions-target-without-a-deadline-isn-t-much-of-a-target-20200920-p55xg4.html
