Mr Bowen, previous the opposition health spokesman, was part of Labor leader's Anthony Albanese frontbench reshuffle announced last week, believing there will be an early federal election later this year.

"Our commitment to net zero by 2050 is very, very clear," Mr Bowen told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program.

"We are committed to bring Australia in line with the other 120 countries around the world ... under Scott Morrison's leadership Australia is an outlier, a laggard."

He promised Labor will have a strong evidenced-based, scientifically and economically focused climate change policy at the next election.

Mr Bowen - a former shadow treasurer and briefly treasurer during the dying days of the last Labor government - said the key areas are restoring traditional industries, getting investment in manufacturing and jobs.

"If we get it wrong, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be destroyed," he warned.

Labor has yet to make a fresh commitment to a medium term target in either 2030 or 2035 en route to zero emissions in 2050.

"Of course we'll outline our pathway to net zero," Mr Bowen said.

"I've been in the job a couple of days, you'd understand I've got a lot more consultation to do about that."

Australian Associated Press