Today (Nov 13, 2025), Australia's opposition Liberal Party announced it's walking away from its plan to hit net-zero emissions by 2050. Instead, they'll put affordable energy front and center if they win the next election. ⚡️💰
After a five-hour showdown yesterday, moderate and right-wing members settled their feud. The result? The Liberals now align with their coalition partner, the Nationals, ditching emissions targets but sticking with the Paris climate agreement.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley told reporters, "Today the Liberal Party has decided to put affordable energy first. Net zero would be welcome if we can get there with technology, with choice and voluntary markets."
Here's what's on the table:
- Keeping coal plants open longer to avoid price spikes 🏭
- Lifting Australia's ban on nuclear energy ☢️
- Boosting gas supply and infrastructure projects 🚛
Despite dropping the net-zero goal, Ley promises emissions will still fall "in line with comparable countries" and "as fast as technology allows."
It's a sharp turn from former PM Scott Morrison's 2021 pledge and comes after the Liberals' defeat by Labor in May. The center-left Labor government, by contrast, is aiming to cut emissions 62-70% by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. In September, Labor allocated $3.3 billion to help industrial facilities decarbonize.
For young voters and market watchers, the question is: will prioritizing cheaper energy win the day, or will climate action sway public opinion? 🌱🔍
Reference(s):
Australia's conservative Liberal Party abandons net-zero policy
cgtn.com
