2021-10-31
Climate Action Bill introduced, to address WA’s ever-increasing emissions and promote our comparative advantage in transitioning to renewables
By Hon Brad Pettitt, MLC, Member for South Metropolitan
Right now, there is no bigger or more substantial issue facing us than climate change. The debate over climate change and decarbonising our economies has shifted from an abstract net zero by 2050 target to decisive action over the next decade.
We must act urgently if we are to have any chance of a safe climate for our kids and grandkids.
By the end of this decade, we will very likely be living in a world that has been undergoing a major transition and hopefully a state that is too.
This transition is a huge opportunity for WA and with the right leadership we can do this in a way that benefits everyone.
If we get it right, then:
- We will have a reliable and affordable energy grid running predominantly on renewable energy.
- WA will have stopped investing in new oil, gas and coal projects and transitioned workers to more secure clean energy jobs.
- We will be a major exporter of green hydrogen and lithium and other rare earths and components essential for the clean energy transition and created thousands of new jobs in these areas.
- New electric vehicles will outsell those running on petrol or diesel.
- We will greatly increase the number of people riding, walking and catching public transport by investing in the right infrastructure to make leaving the car at home a viable alternative.
- We will have become a more compact city with less sprawl and enlivened urban centres with more residents and jobs in their core.
All of these great ideas are fully supported by the Greens, but they are not exclusively Greens ideas. They are both the recommendations of global experts in energy, public health, urban planning, and climate – all based on the best evidence available – and Greens Policy
Listening to the best experts and making decisions based on the evidence has served this state very well when it comes to COVID. Now evidence-based decision making must better inform us on issues like climate, where once again science and the best public health experts should guide the necessary and significant changes.
These changes were at the heart of my recent budget-reply speech (October 28th) and the 2030 Climate Action Bill I introduced to the WA Parliament (October 14th).
As I have been making clear in the Parliament, carbon emissions reductions is a big challenge for WA. We are one of the worst performing states in one of the worst performing countries when it comes to emissions reduction.
Our level of carbon pollution per capita is nearly double the average of what other developed nations are emitting today, and more than four times the world average. As the world rapidly reduces emissions this decade and transitions to net zero, WA has more work to do than most.
But we also have more opportunity than most. We live in one of the sunniest and windiest places on earth, making it an ideal place to ride the renewables revolution.
WA though is lacking political leadership. There is too much talk about gas, and hydrogen from fossil fuels while renewable energy investment goes elsewhere.
It’s going to require us pushing both in the Parliament for legislated targets and in the community for change. It was wonderful when these came together with the Student Strike for Climate at Parliament House last month. I feel like there is growing momentum to make sure that WA does its fair share in reducing emissions. I look forward to working with you on this.
Header photo: At School Strike for Climate on 15th October with Dorinda and Peter Devereux.