Australia’s Nationals Drop Net Zero Target as Climate Policy Divides Deepen

Australia’s National Party has formally abandoned its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, with party leaders describing themselves as “proud” of the decision following a recent party room meeting. Critics have condemned the move as being “profoundly out of touch” with public sentiment and scientific consensus on climate action.

The decision represents a significant shift in Australia’s political landscape, potentially complicating the Coalition’s climate policy ahead of upcoming elections. The Nationals, traditionally representing rural and mining constituencies, have long been skeptical of aggressive climate targets, arguing they could harm regional economies dependent on fossil fuel industries.

Meanwhile, the Labor government continues to navigate environmental policy challenges of its own. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt recently clarified that Labor does not have a specific policy to end native forest logging, despite its documented environmental impacts. Instead, the government plans to implement stricter environmental standards for regional forestry agreements, following recommendations from environmental review expert Graeme Samuel.

Under Labor’s proposed approach, all development projects—whether coal, gas, housing, or renewable energy—would be assessed against uniform national environmental standards. Projects would need to demonstrate they avoid significant impacts on nine key areas of national environmental significance, with requirements to minimize harm and offset impacts to achieve net environmental gains. While this represents tighter oversight than current regulations, it falls short of the blanket bans on certain industries that environmental groups like the Greens have advocated for.