WA Premier Roger Cook pulls back on WA climate change targets, says emissions may rise
Roger Cook says he doesn't want to "shackle" WA to state legislation requiring a 2050 net zero target. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
In short:
WA Premier Roger Cook has downplayed the need for state climate target legislation, arguing federal targets already commit the state to net zero by 2050.
WA remains the only state without a 2030 emissions reduction target, and WA Labor's 2050 climate legislation has stalled in parliament, failing to progress before the March state election.
What's next?
The Greens have criticised the state government's climate stance, accusing Labor of favouring mining industry voices over environmental experts.
Western Australia's Premier Roger Cook has watered down his government's promise to introduce climate target legislation, saying the state won't be "shackled" if its emissions help the world decarbonise.
WA is already the only state in the country without a 2030 emissions reduction target.
Legislation to introduce a target for 2050 was introduced last year, but has languished in parliament and was not debated before the March state election, which the Cook Labor government emphatically won.
Mr Cook said any legislation introduced in WA would need to be carefully considered.
"Because there's national legislation which will have us at net zero by 2050 which we are captured by … so we won't necessarily gain anything by having state legislation," he said.
The premier said he wanted the state to help with global decarbonisation efforts.
"Our critical minerals, our iron ore, and particularly the development of green iron through the through the use of renewable energies, is a huge opportunity for the globe," he said.
"I'm not going to shackle Western Australia to legislation which damages our efforts to help the globe to decarbonise and reduce emissions.
“If we are going to process more iron ore in Western Australia as part of our green energy future, well, then you will see Western Australia's emissions potentially rise."
Economic imperative
Speaking at a fertiliser plant in Perth's south which received a carbon innovation grant to cut nitrous oxide emissions, Mr Cook said he was committed to the decarbonisation of the state while securing its economic future.
"I want to ensure that Western Australia’s economy remains the strongest in the nation," he said.
"We want to make sure that we can still continue to provide critical minerals and rare earths to the global supply chain."
WA is one of only two jurisdictions without whole-of-economy emissions reductions targets for 2030. (ABC News)
The Greens WA have long been scathing of the government's climate change stance and last week reintroduced a modified version of Labor's Climate Change Bill that includes a 2030 emissions target.
"Last term, the Cook Labor government promised climate action — they even spent millions of taxpayer dollars talking up their plan — but ultimately failed to deliver," Greens WA leader Brad Pettit said in a statement referring to the stalled legislation.
"It's shameful that the Cook government has spent more time in the last few years listening to [Woodside CEO] Meg O'Neill and [mining entrepreneur] Chris Ellison than climate experts."
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