SYDNEY: Australia’s main opposition said on Thursday it would drop the country’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 if it won power.
The center-right Liberal Party have agonized in recent weeks over whether to drop the climate pledge, introduced by the party’s former leader Scott Morrison when he was prime minister in 2021.
On Thursday current opposition leader Sussan Ley said her party remained committed to “responding to climate change in a way that is affordable, responsible and achievable.”
“We are not pursuing net zero, we are pursuing energy affordability and emissions reduction,” she said.
“Net zero would be welcome” but the target would be achieved without government intervention, Ley added.
The Liberal Party’s decision comes just days after their conservative coalition partners, the National Party, voted to ditch their net zero by 2050 target.
The coalition will meet Sunday to come to an agreement on the coalition’s formal stance.
Australia’s “climate wars” — a years-long domestic fight over emissions policy — stalled progress and the country remains dependent on its fossil fuel economy for growth.
Canberra’s center-left government has poured billions into solar power, wind turbines and green manufacturing and pledged to make the nation a renewable energy superpower.
It has also pledged to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 percent from 2005 levels over the next decade.
Australia’s main opposition party drops net zero commitment
https://arab.news/ne7uw
Australia’s main opposition party drops net zero commitment
- The Liberal Party’s decision comes just days after their conservative coalition partners, the National Party, voted to ditch their net zero by 2050 target
US playwright arrested in Japan for alleged drug smuggling: reports
- Harris was detained at Naha airport on November 16
- Customs officers found 0.78 grams of a substance containing the stimulant MDMA concealed in his bag
TOKYO: Prominent American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of drug smuggling, according to local media reports.
Known for his Tony-nominated “Slave Play” and his appearance in the hit show “Emily in Paris,” Harris was detained at Naha airport on November 16, the Okinawa Times reported on Thursday.
Customs officers found 0.78 grams of a substance containing the stimulant MDMA concealed in the 36-year-old’s tote bag, according to the newspaper.
It was not clear whether Harris had been officially charged.
Japan has some of the world’s strictest drug laws, and possession of illegal narcotics can result in jail time.
Harris arrived in the southern Okinawa region on a flight from Taiwan, where he had a layover after flying from Britain, according to local broadcaster RBC.
He came to Japan for tourism, the broadcaster said.
“Slave Play” earned a record-breaking 12 Tony nominations in 2018, but did not win any awards.
Harris also serves as a co-producer of HBO’s popular series “Euphoria.”
