Conservatives blame the energy crisis on net zero climate goals – but what is really going on?

Rising oil prices and the links between Australian gas and coal prices and international markets are key influences on increasing energy costs. Photograph: David Crosling/AAP

Energy markets and electricity systems are complicated beasts at the best of times, but throw in war, extreme weather, policy dysfunction and a pandemic and the picture gets even murkier.

However, some of Australia’s conservative commentators seem to think there is one thing to blame for the country’s rising electricity prices and the threat of power outages: it’s all the fault of “net zero”.