Birds are seen and a plane flying above the emission from the chimney of a chemical plant located near Sydney, Australia June 2, 2017. CANBERRA, Oct 18 Reuters - The junior partner in the coalition government said on Monday it would not be rushed into a decision on whether to support a 2050 net zero emissions target.
Last week Joe Biden said he would attend the U.N. COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow, where he was expected to present world leaders and including U.S. President Morrison, with updated climate ambitions of net zero by 2050.
Barnaby Joyce had sought the agreement of the government coalition partner, but its leader Morrison said rural-focused lawmakers were unable to agree during a four-hour meeting on Sunday.
Joyce said the party will meet again on Monday and warned against attempts to pressure them.
We don't have to be tied to script. Joyce has a separate party and our own party room for a distinct purpose, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
If someone believes they are being forced into a corner, you know what they are going to say no, they will say no. Morrison said his party is concerned about the impact of net zero on farming and coal mining, but Joyce faces increasing pressure to reach an agreement before the Climate Summit.
Morrison can't afford no contract. He would look like a weak leader on the world stage just months before election, said Haydon Manning, professor of politics at Flinders University in South Australia.
Morrison said Australia wanted to achieve net zero as soon as possible and preferably by 2050 and that it expects to beat its pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 26% to 28% from 2005 levels by 2030.
The prime minister must call a general election by May 2022 and he is required to both appease moderates in his Liberal Party who are pressing for climate action and retain support of the National Party.