On Thursday, November 13, 2025, Australia's conservative Liberal Party made a dramatic policy shift, walking away from its net-zero emissions target by 2050. Opposition leader Sussan Ley announced the decision, stating that affordable energy will take precedence if the party wins power.
This move follows months of intense debate between moderate and right-wing factions, and finally aligns the Liberals with their coalition partner, the National Party, which voted earlier this month to abandon its net-zero commitment.
A Shift in Priorities
At a five-hour meeting on Wednesday night, a majority of party members voted to scrap the 2050 net-zero goal set under former prime minister Scott Morrison in 2021. Instead, the Liberal Party’s new agenda focuses on:
- Preventing early closures of coal-fired power plants
- Lifting Australia's ban on nuclear energy
- Boosting investment in new gas supply and infrastructure
“Today the Liberal Party has decided to put affordable energy first,” Ley told reporters. “Net zero would be welcome if we can get there with technology, with choice and voluntary markets.”
Comparisons and Consequences
While the Liberals won’t pursue a net-zero target, Ley insists emissions will still fall “in line with comparable countries” and “as fast as technology allows.” The party also pledged to remain a signatory to the Paris climate agreement.
In contrast, the center-left Labor government aims to cut emissions by 62–70% from 2005 levels by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. In September, it announced A$3.3 billion to help industrial facilities decarbonize.
This policy reversal could reshape Australia’s energy landscape, affecting global energy markets and the outlook for clean-technology investment. As young professionals, entrepreneurs, and climate advocates around the world track these developments, the debate over energy affordability versus emissions targets is set to intensify.
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Australia's conservative Liberal Party abandons net-zero policy
cgtn.com
