EMISSIONS reduction targets, increased investment in renewable energy technologies and a commitment to a national emissions trading scheme are expected to form the cornerstone of the state government’s climate policy and action paper, to be released next week. Recently appointed Environment and Climate Change Minister, Tony McRae, also confirmed that the government would change its stance on uranium and nuclear energy. In one of his first presentations since being appointed to his new portfolio in December, Mr McRae outlined the government’s progress in the development of its Climate Action Statement, saying the action paper would put in motion a substantial program of reform and policy changes. The action paper will cover energy efficiency strategies for a number of industries including transport, agriculture and mining, but the biggest target for reform will the stationary energy sector, which accounts for 40 per cent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. “Next week will begin a cascading reform which will change regulation, the state’s energy mix and create a platform for technologies never used in WA before,” Mr McRae said. He also called on the federal government to back a state and territory government-led model for a national emissions trading scheme, which targets a 40 per cent reduction in emissions on 2000 levels.
