The WA state government will introduce climate change legislation this year to establish a framework for responsible emissions reductions to meet Western Australia’s goal of net zero by 2050.
The legislation will formalise the McGowan government’s aim to reduce government emissions by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030, and will provide a framework for the state’s climate change response and give industry, business and investors certainty and stability.
The legislation will create statutory requirements for the state government to set interim emission reduction targets and develop strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
It means WA will have clear and necessary policies to reduce emissions, helping to mobilise private sector capital for the net zero transition and enhance climate resilience.
The legislation will also ensure accountability and transparency, requiring the Minister for Climate Action to report annually to Parliament on WA’s net emissions and progress towards reduction targets.
Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby said climate change was the greatest challenge of our lifetime and that we needed to take decisive action this decade.
Whitby continued: “This legislation will help accelerate our transition to net zero emissions in a responsible and achievable way.
“Legislation s ends a strong signal about the priorities and leadership of our government.
“This includes our commitment to achieving an 80 per cent reduction in State Government emissions by 2030.
“This will help unlock critical investment in clean energy infrastructure and technologies, ultimately reducing costs for businesses.
“We’re taking significant action to combat climate change – a new adaptation strategy will be released this year to help enhance our state’s climate resilience and ensure adaptation is reflected in government decision-making.”
While they welcomed the new legislation, Greenpeace Australia Pacific noted that proposed major gas projects in the state would undermine its goal and jeopardise the state’s clean future.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Head of Clean Transitions Jess Panegyres said: “Greenpeace welcomes the plan to legislate the net zero by 2050 target and set five-yearly targets, but the state government needs an urgent plan to transition away from gas in order to meet these goals.
“This move brings WA in line with other states which have legislated net zero, and is important in creating policy certainty.
“WA has incredible opportunities in the clean energy economy – the biggest opportunities in Australia.
“However, the continued expansion of the gas industry is short-sighted and will undermine WA’s ability to meet this important goal.”
Panegyres said the next urgent priority was a plan for the state’s orderly transition out of gas.
She added: “Gas is a fossil fuel that drives dangerous climate change.
“The McGowan government has already vowed a transition away from coal by 2030, and now it’s time for Western Australia to move away from dirty gas projects, and make meaningful headway on their new and ambitious clean future targets.”
This sentiment was echoed by Broome-based conservation group Environs Kimberley, which warned the new laws must begin reducing WA’s skyrocketing emissions immediately and not allow further increases.
Environs Kimberley Director Martin Pritchard said the legislation had the potential to be a major breakthrough for WA and a big step forward for the climate and WA’s economy.
However, he said the bill must not just legislate the point target of net zero by 2050, but must also cap emissions at current levels and require science-based interim targets to be set for the state, with a carbon budget.
Pritchard continued: ““The WA EPA approach of requiring net zero for new projects by 2050 while allowing emissions to continue rising in the short term, has facilitated some of the largest and most polluting new fossil gas developments on the planet, such as Woodside’s Scarborough project.
“Let’s be clear about this: unless the new legislation leads to a reduction in emissions in the immediate short term, followed up with continued, accelerating reductions, it will be meaningless.
“There must be science-based interim targets, with a carbon budget and a legislated cap on emissions at current levels to prevent further rises.
“Setting a target for 30 years’ time while allowing vastly increasing emissions from fracking the Kimberley or allowing Woodside to open up the offshore Browse basin, will only ensure further climate catastrophe – as we are already seeing with the unprecedented Kimberley floods.
“We’re calling on the Premier to take leadership on ensuring a safe climate by banning fracking in the Kimberley, and making sure Woodside’s Browse methane project doesn’t go ahead.
“The Kimberley has just experienced the worst floods in living memory, which is exactly what state government predictions are saying is expected in the future from dangerous climate change caused by burning fossil fuels like gas.”
