00:00 Winter is just a couple of weeks away and Perth beaches have been unseasonably busy.
00:07 While some are lapping it up, others see it as a call to action.
00:14 Governments across the world are trying to drive their emissions below 2005 levels.
00:20 But WA's are heading in the wrong direction.
00:23 The ABC has obtained a report by the Australian Environment Agency
00:27 commissioned by the WA Government, which projects the state will emit
00:32 more than 91 million tonnes of CO2 this year, almost 20% above 2005 levels.
00:39 In record high emissions we need to think about where temperatures are now.
00:43 Our May temperatures are average maximums never been higher
00:47 and that's linked very strongly to increased greenhouse gas emissions globally.
00:51 The Climate Works modelling projects that the state will emit more than 91 million tonnes
00:56 of CO2 this year, almost 20% below 2005 levels.
00:59 The Climate Works modelling projects that by 2030,
01:03 WA's emissions will be just 2% below our 2005 levels.
01:07 By 2035 they'll be 20% under.
01:10 But the modelling shows that for WA to get to net zero by 2050,
01:14 the state's emissions need to be dropping at twice that rate,
01:18 down 11% by 2030 and 42% by 2035.
01:23 The state is expected to achieve net zero emissions by 2050,
01:27 which it will soon legislate.
01:29 But it's refusing to release reports and modelling showing WA's current trajectory.
01:35 Why keep the modelling secret?
01:37 Why not release that Climate Works report?
01:39 Look, because we will target 2035.
01:42 It makes more sense, it gives industry more time
01:45 and it also allows us to look at the national aspirations for 2035.
01:51 There's a lot of modelling being done at the national level
01:55 that we can incorporate into our planning for 2035 for Western Australia.
01:59 It makes sense.
02:00 This government promised gold standard transparency
02:04 and what we're seeing unfortunately is the opposite,
02:06 where absolutely nothing has been released.
02:09 Look, and I know why, it's because they're embarrassed.
02:12 Every state in Australia has a 2030 emissions target, except WA.
02:17 Queensland, also a mining state, has already reached its 2030 target
02:22 and is aiming for a 75% reduction in emissions by 2035.
02:27 The government says the state's rising emissions are necessary
02:30 to help other countries decarbonise.
02:33 And that means pressure on getting gas to markets.
02:37 It also means mining critical minerals in Western Australia, mining iron ore.
02:42 All of these things are essential to build renewable energy infrastructure.
02:47 But climate scientist Bill Hare says WA's slow progress
02:51 is more to do with its slow uptake of renewable energy.
02:55 We in the scientific community are panicking about the lack of action.
02:58 This state will not look the same at all.
03:01 It won't be the place that we want and that we grew up in
03:05 unless we can get global efforts underway
03:08 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.
03:10 These grandparents won't be around to find out.
03:13 But for now, they'll be here.
03:16 I'm going to try it again.
03:18 [BLANK_AUDIO]
Comments