NSW sets net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 as Australian pollution climbs

Hunter Valley's Bayswater coal-fired power
plant is earmarked to close by 2035.

NSW, home to Australia's largest economy, will set a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and allocate $500 million over five years to help spur the transition to renewable energy.

The aspirational target comes as new analysis of Australia's emissions point to national pollution far overshooting the 2030 goals committed to by the Turnbull government at last year's climate summit in France. The Paris agreement comes into Australia's emissions on Friday.

By releasing a goal for NSW to be carbon neutral by mid-century, the state is falling into line with states such as South Australia but also federal Labor's target.

A draft NSW strategic plan will be open to public feedback ahead of formalising policies by mid-2017. Potential spending includes $200 million from the Climate Change Fund to accelerate the take-up of emerging energy technologies such as renewables and batteries.

Read Peter Hannam’s story in The Sydney Morning Herald - “NSW sets net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050 as Australian pollution climbs.”