GLOBAL - The leader of a major Australian regional political party, Dugald Saunders of the New South Wales (NSW) Nationals, announced his resignation on Monday, November 17, 2025, EAT. His departure follows his party's recent decision to abandon its commitment to a 2050 net-zero emissions target, a move that has sent shockwaves through Australia's political landscape and raised concerns about the stability of international climate action.

In a statement, Mr. Saunders cited a desire to “focus more on my family and myself” as the reason for stepping down after leading the party since May 2023. However, his resignation is inextricably linked to the intense pressure and internal division following the NSW Nationals' vote last week to discard the state's climate goal, which was aligned with the Paris Agreement. This decision has fractured the opposition Coalition in NSW, creating a public rift with its senior partner, the Liberal Party, which officially remains committed to the target.

A Coalition Divided on Climate

The NSW Nationals' move to scrap the net-zero target mirrors a similar, contentious decision by their federal counterparts. The party argues that the economic burden of transitioning to renewable energy disproportionately affects regional and rural communities, which form their political base. Proponents of abandoning the target claim the policy was causing angst among farming communities, replacing real farms with solar farms, and that a clear pathway to achieving the goal was absent. This stance has placed them at odds with the NSW Liberal Party leader, Mark Speakman, who has personally reaffirmed his support for the 2050 net-zero aspiration. Leaked polling suggests that abandoning the climate commitment could lead to an “electoral wipeout” for the Coalition in metropolitan areas.

The schism highlights a deepening ideological struggle within conservative politics in Australia, reflecting a broader global trend. The debate is no longer just about the science of climate change but the economic and social costs of mitigation policies, creating instability that threatens established bipartisan consensus in many developed nations.

Global Repercussions and the View from Kenya

While the political maneuvering unfolds in one of Australia's states, the implications are global. Subnational governments, like that of NSW, play a critical role in achieving national and international climate goals. Australia, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, has committed to a national target of reducing emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050. Policy reversals at the state level undermine the country's ability to meet these Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and weaken its credibility on the world stage.

For nations like Kenya, which contribute less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffer disproportionately from climate impacts, such developments are alarming. According to a November 2023 World Bank report, inaction on climate change could result in real GDP losses for Kenya of up to 7% by 2050 and push an additional 1.1 million people into poverty. Kenya's own climate policies are rated as “1.5°C compatible” by the Climate Action Tracker, demonstrating a commitment that stands in stark contrast to the political backtracking seen in parts of Australia.

The fracturing of political will in wealthy countries creates uncertainty for the international climate finance frameworks that Kenya and other developing nations rely on for adaptation and mitigation efforts. The estimated cost of Kenya's climate action up to 2030 is $62 billion, a sum that requires significant international support. When developed countries appear to falter on their own commitments, it erodes the trust and solidarity essential for the collective global effort mandated by the Paris Agreement.

An Uncertain Political Future

With Mr. Saunders' departure, the NSW Nationals now face a leadership contest. Former leader Paul Toole, whom Saunders defeated in 2023, is expected to contend for the position again. Other potential candidates include Steph Cooke and Gurmesh Singh. The outcome of this contest will determine the future direction of the party and could either mend or further deepen the climate policy divide within the state's opposition coalition.

The events in New South Wales serve as a critical case study of the political challenges confronting climate action worldwide. For Kenya and the East Africa region, the instability in Australian climate policy is a stark reminder that the global fight against climate change is not only an environmental and economic battle but a deeply political one, where domestic disputes can have far-reaching international consequences.