WA's greenhouse gas emissions contiue to rise unabated

The Wilderness Society (WA) Inc
Media Release
26th June 2008

Carpenter government's emission targets 'unattainable'

The latest official figures for WA’s greenhouse gas emissions (1990-2006), released yesterday by the Federal Department of Climate Change, paint a very disturbing picture.

Emissions from WA power stations and industrial processes, e.g. gas processing, have doubled since 1990 (the benchmark year), and there has been an overall increase in emissions of 20%.  
To view go to: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/inventory/stateinv/pubs/states2006.pdf

Wilderness Society WA State Coordinator Peter Robertson said, “With WA’s emissions continuing to climb, and further massive increases coming with the proposed Browse Basin LNG plants and new coal fired power stations, it will be impossible for the Carpenter government to meet its target of a 60% reduction in emissions by 2050.

“The current gas crisis has again exposed our outdated reliance on centralised, dirty fossil fuel energy. It is imperative that we learn from this and the government fast-tracks the implementation of its promises on renewable energy and improving energy efficiency (i.e. reducing energy demand and waste).

“Acting now on energy efficiency and demand management will not only reduce our emissions, but will also reduce household and business energy bills – a key community concern.

“WA has a lot to lose if our emissions continue to rise and we continue to ignore the clean and efficient future that is already available. As well as suffering the impacts of global warming, we will lose major economic opportunities.

“We urge the Premier to recommit as a matter of priority to a low-carbon, renewable and efficient energy future, for the sake of our environment, our economy and future generations.”