Net zero is not dead: environment minister

Environment Minister Sussan Ley is digging in on net zero carbon emissions by 2050 despite the new deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce’s opposition.

“Net zero is not dead in the water,” she told journalists in Canberra on Tuesday.

“Net zero will happen as soon as possible and the prime minister has made that very clear.”

She said the strength of the Liberal and National coalition was the ability for people to hold different views.

Mr Joyce has been sworn in as Scott Morrison’s deputy at Government House, after ousting Michael McCormack as Nationals leader on Monday.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the elevation of a “climate change sceptic” to the position of deputy prime minister would further damage Australia’s international reputation.

“What we have is a rump in the coalition, in the National Party and in the Liberal Party, but it’s a rump that’s holding back Australia,” he said.

Overnight, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee blindsided the Morrison government with a draft listing of the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger” because of ongoing damage from reef bleaching.

The committee is urging the Australian government to act on climate change and reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming as part of national efforts to protect environmental treasures.

Ms Ley slammed the listing as “politics”, even as Australia grapples with its own political stoush on climate policy.

Mr Joyce has vowed to protect jobs in farming, mining and manufacturing, which is expected to be a central pillar of the new coalition agreement yet to be signed with Mr Morrison.

Liberal MP Warren Entsch, special envoy for the reef, said the Nationals would make their own policy decision on climate change and emissions reduction.

“My commitment is absolutely 100 per cent to get to net zero.”

Mr Entsch said there was not a single agricultural representative body in Australia that did not support 2050 as a target.

“And the same goes for the mining sector – most of those are on board,” he said.