We have an update on the latest developments on climate action in Western Australia, some of which are exciting and some of which are concerning. We have had some recent breakthroughs which would not have been possible without your support.
Here is a quick refresh on what we have been up to before this point:
- Back in April, hundreds of people started signing on to an open letter to Mark McGowan calling for a Clean State Jobs Plan for WA
- We knew we were starting to cut through when CCWA Director Piers Verstegen was appointed to the McGowan government’s COVID-19 Recovery Advisory Group, giving us a direct way to influence the Government’s recovery plans
- To make the most of the opportunity, our research and policy team quickly pulled together recommendations to create over 200,000 jobs through action on climate change, renewable energy and conservation and care economies
- We sent copies of this plan to every Minister, Member of Parliament and government agency, prompting organisations from charities to business groups to partner with us to promote the initiatives, such as the ambitious proposal to create 15,000 new energy-efficient and solar-powered social housing dwellings.
- The proposals soon started to attract media attention, and we had great stories in news outlets around the state
- Recent polling of everyday West Australians asking where recovery efforts should be focussed showed overwhelming support for renewable energy, conservation and the care economy, with little support for handouts to the fossil gas industry
As of late, we are starting to see some results. In recent days the McGowan government has announced COVID-19 recovery initiatives that take concrete steps towards delivering our Clean State jobs plan, including:
- A program to put solar panels on social housing dwellings
- $60 million for renewable energy and battery projects around the state
- $60 million for conservation projects in regional areas
- $17 million for batteries and solar in the Kimberley, including in First Nations communities
- $15 million to boost emergency services and fire brigades who are dealing with the impacts of climate change
We are optimistic that there will be more positive announcements to come. There are so many opportunities to create jobs by scaling up these and other initiatives that deliver action on climate change. In the meantime, these announcements show our advocacy is having an impact, and that your support is making a huge difference.
