Prime Minister Scott Morrison has inched closer to committing Australia to an emissions target of net zero by 2050, though he has done so by also distancing himself from "inner city" residents who have long demanded he adopt an ambitious climate goal.
Just days before the Prime Minister participates in US President Joe Biden's virtual greenhouse gas summit, he conceded Australia's energy mix needs to change over the next 30 years "on the road to net zero emissions."
In a speech to business leaders in Sydney, he declared the nation would chart its "own course" and achieve its aims through "the best technology and the animal spirits of capitalism", not "taxes", like a carbon price.
A net zero target by 2050 is a deeply divisive proposal within the Coalition.
Some members of the Nationals, like Queensland Senator Matt Canavan, have vowed to vote against it, claiming it will kill coal mining jobs and manufacturing in regional areas.
Meanwhile, Liberal MPs representing wealthy Sydney and Melbourne seats fear they will face an electoral backlash, if their party isn't seen to be taking the issue seriously.
As a result, the PM has been pivoting towards the target slowly in an attempt to avoid too much infighting.
In his speech, Mr Morrison even appeared to mock those inner-city voters who have long campaigned for climate action, stating, "we will not achieve net zero in the cafes, dinner parties and wine bars of our inner cities."
He said that net zero will be "won" by the energy, industrial, agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors, pointing to work BHP, Andrew Forrest and AGL are doing to reduce emissions as examples.
"In the factories of our regional towns and outer suburbs. In the labs of our best research institutes and scientists."
"This is where the road to net zero is being paved in Australia."
Green energy can create job 'revolution', says Labor
In a speech of his own later today, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will mock the government's progress on climate change and try to reframe some of the debate about green energy policies.
As he did when he first became leader, he will say climate action has for too long been portrayed as a threat and declare it should be seen as massive opportunity for economic growth.
"I am not just talking about jobs for people mining lithium, copper and nickel or those who will transform those materials into batteries."
"I'm talking about a revolution in jobs growth right across the Australian economy based on one inescapable fact – renewable energy is not only clean, but cheap, and getting cheaper."
It is language similar to that used by President Biden, who has sought to sell his climate policies as job creation plans.
At this week's virtual summit, the President's new administration is trying to get 40 leaders to outline how they will contribute to curbing climate change.
The US will also put forward a non-binding, 2030, emissions reduction goal.
It's an eagerly awaited target which will signal to the nation and the world how aggressively the President wants to act on climate change over the next decade.
