Australia unveiled plans on Thursday to keep burning natural gas beyond 2050.
It stated that its reliance on the fossil fuel would not derail a pledge to reach net zero emissions in the next 30 years.
Resources minister Madeleine King said gas “will remain an important source of energy” in Australia, outraging environmental groups which branded the Future Gas Strategy a “climate disaster”.
Gas is needed through to 2050 and beyond,” King said, to bolster the economy and stabilise the country’s electricity grid as renewables were ramped up.”
Australia has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and has recently touted plans to overhaul its economy with massive investments in clean energy production.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the gas strategy, saying it would not imperil Australia’s climate commitments.
“It is consistent with the long position that we have held, my government is committed to a net-zero future,” he said.
Jennifer Rayner, advocacy head for the Australian non-profit Climate Council, said the government needed to choose between gas or renewable energy.
“It can’t do both. More gas is a bad bet, against a safe climate future and a thriving clean economy.”
Australia said it would continue to ship gas overseas under the government’s strategy, which also makes the case for exploring and exploiting a series of new gas fields.
Australia has committed to cutting carbon emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels, on a path to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
Australia’s carbon dioxide emissions per person are among the highest in the world at 15.3 tonnes, surpassing US levels, World Bank figures show.
AFP
