The WA government claims gas produced in WA is needed to help other nations steer clear of coal and decarbonise. How much truth is there to this?<\/p>\n
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WA Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson reportedly said, during a panel discussion: “We expect to have legislation in the parliament next year \u2026 for some form of targets.”<\/p>\n
Ms Sanderson was speaking at an Energy and Climate Summit hosted by the Australian Financial Review.<\/p>\n
The minister’s office told the ABC it was unable to clarify what the nature of the climate targets were at this stage.<\/p>\n
Most jurisdictions in Australia have their own 2030 targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and targets for renewable energy generation.<\/p>\n
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Amber-Jade Sanderson’s office says it can’t clarify the nature of the proposed climate targets. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n
WA and the Northern Territory do not have their own emissions targets while WA, the NT and New South Wales do not have a renewables target.<\/p>\n
A secret report commissioned by the WA government, revealed by the ABC last year, found the state was unlikely to reach net zero emissions by 2050 at its current trajectory.<\/a><\/p>\n In a statement, the WA government said it was “committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050” in line with the federal government’s legislated target.<\/p>\n Western Australia does not have its own emissions targets, or targets for renewable energy generation. (ABC News: Charlie Mclean)<\/p>\n “Since Western Australia’s climate legislation was introduced, the way greenhouse gas emissions from industry in WA are regulated has changed, with the federal government taking the lead through the strengthened Safeguard Mechanism,” a spokesperson from Ms Sanderson’s office said.<\/p>\n “Considering this change, the state government is taking some time to review the legislation to ensure it delivers the best outcomes for WA.”<\/p>\n The Safeguard Mechanism is a federal government policy requiring emissions reductions from Australia’s largest industrial facilities, of which about 30 per cent are in WA.<\/p>\n ‘We are lagging way behind’<\/p>\n The WA Greens leader Brad Pettitt said renewables and emissions targets were critical to improving the state’s input to Australia’s climate contributions.<\/p>\n “We are lagging way behind because we are one of the only states without a target. Renewable energy targets give the industry certainty, they get investment going,” he said.<\/p>\n Brad Pettitt says WA is lagging behind other states and territories that already have climate targets. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)<\/p>\n “Right now we are going to struggle to close coal because we haven’t got enough new renewable energy coming on-stream quickly enough.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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