Climate rows resurface in Australia's ruling coalition ahead of election

FILE PHOTO: Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison gestures as he makes a statement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain November 1, 2021. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's ruling conservative coalition on Wednesday looked to downplay internal debates over climate policy ahead of a national election to be held on May 21 after signs of division re-emerged over the government's emission reduction targets.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was forced to back the government's emission targets after a member of the junior coalition partner claimed the global push toward net zero was "sort of dead anyway".