“I welcome that the McGowan Government has publicly acknowledged the need to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, however to effectively address the climate emergency WA must transition away from fossil fuels immediately.
Though this policy sets out some promising intentions, it fails to commit to concrete emission reduction targets for both big polluters and the State Government. Instead, this policy talks of the McGowan Government’s ‘aspiration’ to work towards net zero emissions. An aspiration is not a commitment.
Climate change is already causing massive upheavals right here in WA: from droughts and water deficiencies to coastal erosion and increased frequency and intensity of bushfires. And this is only set to get worse.
The McGowan Government has an opportunity to take advantage of WA’s plentiful renewable resources and position the State as a world leader in clean, reliable energy. By doing so the McGowan Government would provide investment in jobs that reduce emissions and the impact on climate change, rather than continue to prop up its major donors in high polluting industries.
I sincerely hope that this policy is not an attempt to undermine the development of the WA Environmental Protection Authority’s Greenhouse Gas Guidelines that are currently undergoing public consultation.
After Labor members voted to acknowledge the climate emergency at their State Conference over the weekend, it is disappointing that this sense of urgency has not carried across to the McGowan Government. There is a clear disconnect between the Government and its community — who are demanding real action on climate change.
I strongly urge the McGowan Government to reassess this policy and demonstrate to the community a real commitment to reducing emissions and tackling climate change. And the government will have an opportunity to do just that when the Legislative Council debates The Greens’ motion to declare a climate emergency, next week.”