The federal government is under pressure to increase Australia’s commitments to cut greenhouse emissions and Mr Morrison’s attendance was expected to hinge on securing agreement with the Nationals to commit Australia to a deadline of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Mr Morrison on Friday described net zero by 2050 as an important environmental goal and said the discussions he was having with his colleagues were about a policy to ensure that Australia’s regions were strong and regional jobs were protected.
The Nationals party room will meet on Sunday to discuss the policy.
“The government will be finalising its position to take to the summit. We’re working through those issues with our colleagues and I look forward to those discussions over the next couple of weeks,” Mr Morrison said.
The COP26 summit kicks off on November 1,the day after the conclusion of a meeting of G20 nations in Rome,which Mr Morrison will also attend.
The UK,US and most other wealthy nations have committed to cut emissions by about 50 per cent or more by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest. Australia has not set a deadline to reach net zero,but is bound by its commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions by at least 26 per cent by 2030.