26 October 2021: Climate activist group 350 Australia has called Morrison’s net zero commitment too little, too late, and is calling for a plan to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Today the Morrison Government committed to get Australia to reach net zero emissions by 2050 while continuing to support the expansion of the coal and gas industries and releasing no additional policies to cut emissions.

350 Australia CEO Lucy Manne says: “We need to slash emissions today, tomorrow, this year, and this decade – not in 2050.

“​​This is the climate policy equivalent of showing up late to a party, refusing to bring what the host asked you to, and then trying to ruin the party for everyone.

“The Morrison Government’s belated and begrudging commitment to net zero by 2050 is meaningless while the Government pours billions of dollars of public money into expanding fossil fuels and promoting false solutions like offsets, and failed carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

“Genuine solutions will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, be led by communities, and support workers in the transition away from coal, oil and gas mining. What the Morrison Government is proposing will delay action, worsen the climate crisis and protect fossil fuel corporations’ profits.

“We need real solutions to the climate crisis that will achieve 100% renewables and 75% emissions reduction by 2030. These sort of targets will enable us to build resilient communities from the Torres Strait to regional towns, and urban hubs – that can weather the storms together and come out more connected.”