The real risk of Australia’s panned climate strategy is that others follow

Under pressure: An electronic poster of the upcoming COP26 climate talks is seen in Glasgow. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is certain to face criticism from his counterparts at the United Nations conference. — Bloomberg

AUSTRALIA’S widely criticised plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 shows the scale of the global challenge ahead of the Glasgow climate summit, namely achieving real, actionable commitments instead of vague and hopeful statements.

The problem is not that Australia, the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and number two in coal, has belatedly adopted a net-zero goal for 2050, it is that the plan lacks details and relies largely on optimistic assumptions, unproven and yet-to-be invented technology.