WA Premier Roger Cook pulls back on WA climate change targets, says emissions may riseBy WA state political reporter Keane Bourke and Andrea MayesTopic:Climate Change1h ago1 hours agoWed 7 May 2025 at 2:34am Roger Cook says he doesn't want to "shackle" WA to state legislation requiring a 2050 net zero target. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)abc.net.au/news/wa-premier-roger-cook-walks-back-climate-targets/105263382Link copiedShareShare articleWestern Australia's Premier Roger Cook has watered down his government's promise to introduce climate target legislation, saying the state won't be "shackled" if its emissions help the world decarbonise.WA is already the only state in the country without a 2030 emissions reduction target.Legislation to introduce a target for 2050 was introduced last year, but has languished in parliament and was not debated before the March state election, which the Cook Labor government emphatically won.WA won't achieve net zero, secret report findsPhoto shows A dump truck drives along red dirt near a mineWA is expected to hit a new record for greenhouse gas emissions this year, and has no chance of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 unless it changes tack, a government-commissioned report reveals.Mr Cook said any legislation introduced in WA would need to be carefully considered."Because there's national legislation which will have us at net zero by 2050 which we are captured by … so we won't necessarily gain anything by having state legislation," he said.The premier said he wanted the state to help with global decarbonisation efforts."Our critical minerals, our iron ore, and particularly the development of green iron through the through the use of renewable energies, is a huge opportunity for the globe," he said."I'm not going to shackle Western Australia to legislation which damages our efforts to help the globe to decarbonise and reduce emissions.“If we are going to process more iron ore in Western Australia as part of our green energy future, well, then you will see Western Australia's emissions potentially rise."Economic imperativeSpeaking at a fertiliser plant in Perth's south which received a carbon innovation grant to cut nitrous oxide emissions, Mr Cook said he was committed to the decarbonisation of the state while securing its economic future."I want to ensure that Western Australia’s economy remains the strongest in the nation," he said."We want to make sure that we can still continue to provide critical minerals and rare earths to the global supply chain."WA is one of only two jurisdictions without whole-of-economy emissions reductions targets for 2030. (ABC News)The Greens WA have long been scathing of the government's climate change stance and last week reintroduced a modified version of Labor's Climate Change Bill that includes a 2030 emissions target."Last term, the Cook Labor government promised climate action — they even spent millions of taxpayer dollars talking up their plan — but ultimately failed to deliver," Greens WA leader Brad Pettit said in a statement referring to the stalled legislation."It's shameful that the Cook government has spent more time in the last few years listening to [Woodside CEO] Meg O'Neill and [mining entrepreneur] Chris Ellison than climate experts."LoadingPosted 1h ago1 hours agoWed 7 May 2025 at 2:34am, updated 42m ago42 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 3:49amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesPakistan's prime minister vows India's attacks will 'not go unpunished'LIVEPhoto shows A man rides his motorbike through rubble in the darkLiberal leadership race narrows to two likely contenders, Ley and Taylor Topic:Liberal Party of AustraliaPhoto shows Angus Taylor Sussan LeyPeter Dutton lands in Canberra as Coalition MPs divide on nuclear policyLIVEPhoto shows Peter Dutton walks through an airport with microphones and cameras surrounding him.ASIC takes action against Macquarie for 'significant' failuresTopic:Business and Industry RegulationPhoto shows Macquarie Group headquarters, SydneyA feedback loop tanked Dutton's campaign in its final weekAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Clive Palmer NPCRelated storiesWhat hope does Australia have at reaching net zero without WA dramatically upping its game?RAnalysis by Rhiannon ShinePhoto shows A composite image of the Prime Minister and WA PremierWA is set to record its highest-ever gas emissions as net zero looks unlikely, secret report findsTopic:Climate ChangePhoto shows A dump truck drives along red dirt near a mineAs Labor loses total control, WA's upper house is set to get interestingTopic:State and Territory GovernmentPhoto shows A man stands with several other people at a function'Holding back progress Australia-wide': WA's greenhouse gas emissions surge againTopic:State and Territory GovernmentPhoto shows Vapour pours from a mill chimney behind power poles. 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