WA is falling behind on air pollution limits
Western Australia usually likes to go its personal method. Sadly, on the subject of carbon air pollution WA has been stubbornly bucking the nationwide development – however not in a great way. Whereas the remainder of the nation has been decreasing emissions, WA’s have been rising, largely due to the fuel trade.
It’s true that some issues are a bit totally different within the West and the decarbonisation pathway for WA can have its personal twists and turns. On the subject of electrical energy, WA will quickly be the primary state to totally exit from coal-fired energy technology, however its reliance on one other fossil gasoline – fuel, means it has had a remarkably sluggish construct out of renewable power.
Which implies the transition is lagging behind.
WA at present makes use of as a lot fuel as the remainder of the Australian states mixed. However most of it isn’t for households. It’s for electrical energy technology, trade, mining, and the largest person of all is the fuel export trade.
Our report reveals that WA can energy its trade with clear power – not fuel.
We’re all too conversant in the drained arguments of the fuel trade who wish to maintain WA hooked on fuel, who declare that much more is required to maintain WA working. Due to lobbying from Massive Fuel, WA has usually argued that the state deserves particular leeway in its emission discount efforts because of its gas-reliant heavy trade.
Massive Fuel makes use of the identical arguments to justify drilling for brand spanking new fuel – even the place that can contain huge new emissions, and within the case of Woodside’s Browse challenge, drilling 50 fuel wells round Scott Reef. They declare WA wants these new environmentally damaging tasks to take care of our prosperity.
Nicely, now the proof is in. We now have run the numbers and modelled an achievable pathway that clearly reveals that no new fuel is required in WA to maintain our financial system rising by means of the power transition.
Our new report Energy Shift: WA’s Electrified Future written in collaboration with Springmount Advisory, clearly demonstrates that speedy emissions discount is just not solely attainable in WA however is within the financial pursuits of the West Australian public.
The report breaks down the trail Western Australia must take throughout its financial system to drive down emissions according to limiting warming to 1.5 levels, and to develop into a renewable power and inexperienced export powerhouse. It does so with an in depth breakdown of key timelines and dates for the part out of fossil fuels that has not been seen earlier than.
It’s time for WA to decide on its future
However key choices will have to be made – to be clear, that is no small process.
WA at present lacks the enough supporting insurance policies to encourage trade to decarbonise, appeal to funding and assist employees by means of the transition. Australia wants WA to be main the cost to a renewable power future if we’re to fulfill our nationwide emissions discount commitments and if we’re to take care of our nation’s financial standing by means of exportable inexperienced commodities.
Some large mining operations are already making the transfer to renewables because of their price effectiveness, however for a few years Governments of all stripes have subsidised and incentivised fossil gasoline use, that means many industries are caught with the established order. Governments now have a task in creating a brand new set of insurance policies which reward decreasing air pollution.
This report comprehensively breaks down the transition pathway WA can take to make that future attainable. It covers power, trade, transport and agriculture, highlighting the challenges and alternatives throughout every, and offering coverage degree options to attain these ambitions.
Add your title right this moment: Inform Premier Prepare dinner to place WA on a clear, honest and renewable path.
Key Findings
Critically, this modelling demonstrates that WA doesn’t want any new fuel to maintain the lights on and develop the financial system.
The modelling on this report demonstrates that:
There’s a quick and achievable path for WA to maneuver to wash power, defending our local weather and nature, whereas protecting the lights on and rising the financial system
WA may be the center of a robust Australian renewable power financial system
WA doesn’t want extra fuel (together with Woodside’s Browse fuel discipline which lies instantly beneath the pristine Scott Reef).
Ship a message to WA’s Leaders
Please learn the report, share it with your mates, your MP and signal our petition calling on Premier Roger Prepare dinner to place WA on a clear, honest and renewable path.
