Australia has announced it will ramp up its extraction and use of gas until “2050 and beyond”, despite global calls to phase out fossil fuels.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government says the move is needed to shore up domestic energy supply while supporting a transition to net zero.
But critics argue the move is a rejection of science, pointing to the International Energy Agency (IEA) call for “huge declines in the use of coal, oil and gas” to reach climate targets.
Australia – one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas – has also said the policy is based on “its commitment to being a reliable trading partner”.
Released on Thursday, the strategy outlines the government’s plans to work with industry and state leaders to increase both the production and exploration of the fossil fuel.
The government will also continue to support the expansion of the country’s existing gas projects, the largest of which are run by Chevron and Woodside Energy Group in Western Australia.
It argues these moves are needed for Australia’s domestic energy supply as it tracks towards its targets of delivering 82% renewable energy to the grid by 2030, and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
