The McGowan Labor Government is creating a $750 million Climate Action Fund in the 2021-22 State Budget to develop climate-resilient communities and a prosperous low-carbon future.
Building on the Western Australian Climate Policy, the Climate Action Fund invests in sustainable WA jobs and industry innovation while protecting and enhancing the State's unique environmental heritage values and assets.
The McGowan Government is committed to transitioning the Western Australian economy to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The State Budget delivers a suite of measures designed to address the threat of climate change and help industry flourish to create sustainable jobs.
The McGowan Government's Climate Action Fund includes:
- $350 million to significantly expand the State's softwood plantation estate, creating jobs and increasing sustainability of the industry;
- $206 million for renewable energy initiatives to fuel WA's future, including standalone power stations, clean energy in schools, wind turbine manufacturing, refurbishment of Denham Power Station and $1 million for research into the viability of a local green steel industry;
- an $118 million fund to invest in future climate-related initiatives to respond to climate change and create climate-resilient communities;
- $50 million to drive new renewable hydrogen initiatives; and
- $26 million for Carbon Innovation Grants and to help manage coastal erosion.
A further $4.2 million has been allocated in the State Budget to support the development of the next Forest Management Plan.
The 2021-22 State Budget also continues to progress the McGowan Government's Plan for Our Parks, with $15.2 million for the joint management of the Badimia Conservation Reserves and the Thundelarra Conservation Park, and almost $16 million to facilitate negotiations for additional reserve proposals.
Plan for Our Parks will create an additional five million hectares of new national parks, marine parks and reserves by 2024.
In addition to the $750 million Climate Action Fund, the 2021-22 State Budget also delivers a number of other climate action initiatives, including:
- $15 million for the Agriculture Climate Resilience Fund;
- $14 million grant program to support a ban on e-waste in landfill by 2024;
- $13 million Household Energy Efficiency Scheme;
- $4.8 million for six Virtual Power Plants at Kalgoorlie and Geraldton public schools; and
- $2 million additional expenditure from the Establishing and Maintaining Native Vegetation Offsets Account over 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The McGowan Government has also allocated $42 million to deliver its Climate Action election commitments, including Gross Pollution Traps to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans, Peel-Harvey Estuary Protection Plans and extra funding for the Natural Resource Management Program.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"My Government is committed to working with all sectors of the economy to achieve net zero by 2050 to create low-carbon jobs and develop new industries.
"Today's State Budget progresses our plans for a low-carbon economy and developing more climate-resilient communities throughout Western Australia.
"Our $350 million boost for softwood plantations will provide ongoing certainty and supply for the housing and construction sectors, supporting thousands of local jobs."
As stated by Climate Action Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"The 2021-22 State Budget funds a raft of measures to shape climate-resilient communities and help Western Australia forge ahead towards a prosperous low-carbon future.
"Protecting and enhancing our natural assets, through initiatives such as Plan for Our Parks, will ensure our environmental heritage is protected.
"That will be complemented by investment in the industries of the future, such as renewable hydrogen and carbon farming, which will create sustainable WA jobs."
As stated by Energy Minister Bill Johnston:
"The McGowan Government is committed to clean, green energy initiatives to ensure the State has a secure and reliable energy supply into the future.
"We are investing in innovative energy solutions that can be rolled out immediately, and also providing funding for future low-carbon energy projects that will support local jobs.
"By developing new renewable energy technologies we can reduce energy costs and meet our commitment of net zero emissions by 2050."
