Bill Shorten criticises the PM for failing to do more to combat climate

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten has slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s failure to commit to do more to combat climate change after the US and UK announced more ambitious targets during a virtual leaders summit. World leaders took part in President Joe Biden’s climate summit, where one-by-one they outlined their plans to tackle climate change. Scott Morrison stressed Australia can be relied upon to deliver when it comes to climate targets and said delivery is more important than making concrete promises. Mr Morrison said Australia has “proven performance, transparent emissions accounting and transformative technology targets to unlock pathways to net zero”. Mr Morrison also spruiked Australia’s pathway to net zero emissions, saying the nation had the “highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world”. “Australia is on the pathway to net zero, our goal is to get there as soon as we possibly can through technology that enables and transforms our industries, not taxes that eliminate them and the jobs and livelihoods they support and create, especially in our regions.” Having convened the summit, President Biden stressed the importance for all nations, but particularly leading nations, to commit to firm climate targets to reduce carbon emissions. Mr Shorten told Sky News the prime minister needs to act now to get Australia to net zero. “What the prime minister has got to realise is if you snooze you lose," he said. “Between President Biden and China, everyone is moving ahead". The now shadow government services minister said Mr Morrison should "stop shooting the messenger and start getting on with leading the country". “He will do better … in my opinion by leading the people and by leading the nation, not looking over his shoulder always trying to have some snippy little snipe at the people who don’t immediately bow down and agree with everything he utters out of his mouth.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au