COMMODITY CAPERS: The Western Australian Government has decreed it will be introducing legislation to provide a framework for Western Australia’s climate response by formalises the State Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

In a media release, the McGowan Government said it intends this year to introduce climate change legislation to establish a framework for responsible emissions reductions to meet Western Australia’s goal of net zero by 2050.

The announcement didn’t go into any great detail, as you would probably expect from the first tidbit to be released, however it did supply a string of bullet points aimed to excite journalists, as follows.

“This legislation will also formalise our ambitious aim to reduce Government emissions by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.”

Exactly what “Government emissions” are has yet to be fully outlined, but no doubt these will become clearer closer to the time.

“It will provide a framework for the State’s climate change response and give industry, business and investors certainty and stability.”

“Certainty and Stability”, again, no great detail, but we have 27 years to gain some insight.

“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.”

A nice way of saying that they have climate change and the effects thereof in mind, but at this stage they’re not overly sure of what they should be doing.

“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.”

This will most likely make it easier for the Government of the time, whatever persuasion they may be, to rely on the private sector to lead the way.

“The legislation will 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.”

“Accountability and transparency” need we say more?

“Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetime,” According to Reece Whitby the WA Minister for Environment; Climate Action; Racing and Gaming,

“We need to take decisive action this decade.

“This legislation will help accelerate our transition to net zero emissions in a responsible and achievable way.”

The climate winds don’t blow favourably for Western Australia at present with the it being the only state which has recorded an increase in emissions on 2005 levels.

The targets set by the legislation still lag the eastern states with NSW is targeting a 70 per cent reduction by 2035, and Victoria and South Australia hoping to achieve a 50 per cent cut over that period.

Fronting a phalanx of reporters, Whitby said WA was a state which has a lot of fossil fuel companies and a lot of mining companies.

“That means we have high emissions, so we’ve got a particular challenge in Western Australia.”

As vague as the Government’s ambitions are at this stage, they were still given a warm reception from environmentalists who thought they could have had a stronger bite at the cherry.

“A net-zero 2050 target is a good starting point but the key to this new legislation will be setting adequate five-yearly interim emissions targets,” the Conservation Council of WA’s Maggie Wood was reported to have said.

“We cannot allow for a model which permits unsustainable amounts of pollution right up until 2050, polluters must be compelled to make meaningful cuts to their emissions as quickly as possible if we are to avoid the worst extremes of climate change.”