Climate Goals Take a Backseat as Aussie Conservatives Shift Focus
Australia's Liberal Party made waves this week by axing its 2050 net-zero emissions target, opting instead to prioritize lowering energy prices ahead of future elections. The move, announced on November 13, 2025, follows months of internal debates and aligns the party with its coalition partner, the National Party.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley declared the Liberals would scrap current renewable energy targets and halt early coal plant closures if elected. 🏭⚡ 'Affordable energy comes first,' she stated, while leaving the door open for future tech-driven emissions cuts. The plan also includes lifting Australia’s nuclear energy ban and boosting gas infrastructure investments.
This policy U-turn comes after May 2025’s election defeat to Labor, whose $3.3B decarbonization fund and 2035 emissions targets now face stronger opposition. While the Liberals won’t withdraw from the Paris Agreement, their strategy marks a stark divide in Australia’s climate roadmap. 🌏🔥
