despite global warming, the government plans to use gas beyond 2050, going against its promises

This decision contradicts the commitment made by the Australian Prime Minister when he came to power two years ago. She even provokes a movement of rebellion in her own ranks.

Towards climate catastrophe, Australia has decided to go full throttle. In total contradiction with the recommendations of the United Nations and the International Energy Agency, the Australian government announced this week a new gas strategy, consisting of increasing new drilling, and protecting the use of this source of energy. fossil energy, even beyond 2050, the date on which Australia has committed to achieving carbon neutrality.

A policy which goes against the promises of the Labor government, which came to power two years ago, to make the fight against global warming an absolute priority, and which even goes so far as to provoke a movement of rebellion in its own ranks.

The strategy that Anthony Albanese’s government has just revealed consists of authorizing the opening of huge new drilling for natural gas, an energy source that it also plans to use beyond 2050. The announcement immediately triggered an outcry, among environmentalist associations and the Green party, but more surprisingly also within the Labor Party’s own ranks.

Unease among ruling party deputies

Josh Burns was moved by this on ABC radio. At 37, he is one of the youngest deputies in his party. “I did not enter politics to serve as a stepping stone for the fossil fuel industry, he says. And then I have the responsibility for my generation, for the following ones, for my daughter, to do everything possible to decarbonize our economy.”

These reservations, expressed publicly, are extremely rare in Australia. The sign of a malaise which, according to Richard Denniss, director of the think tank The Australia Institute, is not confined to the borders of the island-continent. “At the very moment this gas strategy was announced, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was writing checks in the Pacific, to help the nations of the region manage the climate disruption that the expansion of our gas sector will cause .”

“I think this speaks to Australia’s cynicism when it comes to climate policy.”

Richard Denniss, director of the think tank The Australia Institute

at franceinfo

In its strategy, the government does not rule out the risk posed by natural gas, of which it is already one of the main world producers. But to offset the effects, it intends to rely on a technology promoted by manufacturers in the sector and whose effectiveness remains to be demonstrated, carbon sequestration. In any case, it is not certain that this new policy pleads in favor of Australia, which hopes to host the COP, with the support of the Pacific island nations, in 2026.