We know that gas pollution heats the planet a whopping 80 times more than coal pollution over a 20 year period, and Western Australia's gas exports are our largest contribution to global climate change. The Cook Government is holding an inquiry into WA's role in decarbonising our trading partners. Unless it's challenged, this inquiry will likely be used to justify expanding the gas industry, exporting more fossil gas, and using expensive, dangerous, failed technology like carbon capture and storage (carbon dumping).
To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the science says we must shift to renewable energy this decade. With climate impacts already intensifying in Australia and across the region, the state government must urgently turn its attention to transitioning to solar and wind, instead of running public relations for the fossil fuel industry.
Our submission outlines the risks of continued gas expansion here in WA:
To the Select Committee on the Inquiry into the role of Western Australia in the global effort on decarbonisation,
WA must substantially increase the speed of its renewable deployment and aim to achieve a just transition away from fossil fuels. This involves managing the communal, material, land, and nature impacts of the rollout with deliberate and coordinated policies to phase out fossil fuels and export products produced and manufactured with renewable energy. Many industries are promoting false solutions to decarbonisation in the form of Carbon Capture and Storage, nuclear, blue hydrogen and gas as a transition fuel. These sectors displace investment in renewables and prolong our industries’ reliance on fossil fuels.
1. Green iron has huge potential to decarbonise one of the most energy intensive industries – instead of exporting gas and iron ore, WA could be manufacturing and exporting green steel by recycling steel and processing raw materials using renewable energy and 'green' hydrogen (not 'blue').
2. LNG is not a transition fuel, it is a fossil fuel releases greenhouse gases, heats our planet and causes climate change. When factoring in full lifecycle emissions, gas can be more polluting than coal.
3. The claim that LNG exports are helping our trading partners in Asia decarbonise is not supported with evidence. Japan resells more gas than it imports from Australia. Both Japan and Korea are reducing their gas demands and investing in renewables.
4. LNG exports contradict genuine decarbonisation efforts and are a dangerous departure from climate action.
5. Blue fuels are no way to decarbonise. 'Blue Hydrogen' is produced from gas, and planned projects lock in future demand for gas, which will not help us decarbonise but prolong the use of fossil fuels.
6. Carbon Capture and Storage is a failed experiment that has been used to enable new fossil fuel developments. There are no projects operating anywhere in the world that have delivered CCS on time, on budget, or achieved the carbon storage in the quantities promised.
7. Uranium is radioactive and dangerous, the industry has a history of leaks, spills and non-compliance and is energy intensive. Nuclear power globally is in decline. It is a dangerous and expensive fuel that is often linked to nuclear weapons programs and produces radioactive waste. Nuclear displaces renewables. WA should not lift the ban on uranium mining which would put WA workers and communities at risk.
This inquiry must be challenged. Here's what you can do:
1. Add your name to our submission to call out the Cook Government for attempting to provide cover for fossil fuels
2. Ask your friends to do the same
3. Follow our guide to make your own submission directly
Together, we won't let the Cook Government greenwash gas.
Please note, the submission closes 5:00pm (AWST), 24th October 2025.