“The private sector will increasingly understand that the big opportunity for them is technology that doesn’t only work in developed economies, but that works in developing economies,” he said. “Because if we crack that, then south-east Asia is going to do incredibly well, India is going to do incredibly well. And we are in the box seat.”
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said on Friday the government was “incapable of acting” and Mr Morrison couldn’t lift his 2030 emission reduction target because the party room wouldn’t let them.
“They’re held back by the constraint that is there from Coalition members who are climate sceptics,” Mr Albanese said. “This Prime Minister will be remembered for ridiculing renewable energy, ridiculing action on climate change. And he has a record going way back on that.”
Australia was one of a handful of countries being urged at the UN COP26 climate summit to set a new and more ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target, but that request was ditched from the latest draft COP26 declaration. Other developed nations are also pushing for a price on greenhouse gas pollution.
Despite fierce criticism of the government’s technology-focused plan for a lack of detail and failure to lift 2030 targets, Mr Morrison said he remains certain that governments cannot solve the issue through imposing mandates or through a carbon price.
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“The world’s companies are going to solve this problem because they’re the ones who make electric cars. They’re the ones who make hydrogen and use it and create energy. They’re the ones who manufacture things like steel and aluminium, and plastics,” he said. “The governments don’t do any of those things.
“That doesn’t mean government doesn’t have a role, of course it does, but it’s not the answer. It’s helping support the answer. And ultimately, consumer choice will drive it.”
He defended months of internal wrangling and dissent over the decision to sign up to a net zero target and said he expected voters see the value in taking time to make such a decision.
“I think they’re going to have far greater confidence that their interests are going to be looked after, by myself and in my team,” he said.
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Upbeat Scott Morrison calls on businesses to step up to the climate challenge
Source: Philippines Alive
