The world is split over climate action with a bloc comprising China, India, Russia and Brazil taking a lead in stymieing any meaningful consensus at the G20 leaders’ meeting in Rome over the weekend.

Of those nations, only India has its leader, Narendra Modhi, at Glasgow. He committed India to net zero emissions by 2070.

Answers to emerge over time

While summit host Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden upbraided the major emitters which blocked consensus at the G20, Mr Morrison said it was unrealistic and naive to expect all nations to move at the same pace using the same methodology.

“Technology will have the answers to a decarbonised economy, over time,” he said.

“And achieve it in a way that does not deny our citizens, especially on developing economies, their livelihoods or the opportunity for a better quality of life.

“We can’t control the costs of carbon-based fuels in China or in India or in Indonesia. But what we can do is work with those countries to ensure the technologies that they’re adopting for their industrial growth and their strength and their jobs is low emissions and low cost.”

’Cause for optimism’

His technology plan has been slammed at home for being light on detail and heavy on hope. He told the UN conference the requisite technology would materialise.

“There is cause for optimism – 18 months ago we were staring into the abyss of a one-in-100 years pandemic. The vaccines we would need had not only not been invented, but there had never been a vaccine for a coronavirus.

“But here we are. Billions vaccinated and the world is reclaiming what COVID has taken from us.

“The challenge of combating climate change will be met in the same way, and it will be met by those who are, frankly, largely not in this room.

“It will be our scientists, technologists, engineers, entrepreneurs, industrialists and financiers that will chart this path to net zero. And it is up to us as leaders of governments to back them in.”

Momentum is building

Mr Morrison also defended Australia against the global perception it was a climate change laggard. Having reduced emissions by 20 per cent over 2005 levels, it was, he said, “ahead of the pack”.

“Over the same time, our economy has grown by 45 per cent, proving that economic growth is not at odds with emissions reduction,” he said.

He formally committed Australia to net zero emissions by 2050 and noted 90 per cent of Australia’s exports went to countries which had made the same commitment, making adaption even more critical.

“The scene is set. Global momentum to tackle climate change is building.”