A Clean Jobs Target Explained

Action on climate change is just getting started here in WA, and we are already beginning to see the exciting opportunities that it brings for jobs, businesses and communities.

Low carbon industries like renewable energy, carbon farming, tourism, hospitality, and even clean manufacturing and mining are already starting to deliver new jobs in almost every sector.

Our Clean State Jobs Plan has been developed with experts and stakeholders from every sector. This plan demonstrates how practical action on climate change can deliver exciting opportunities for businesses and communities across our state, from the Kimberley to the Southwest, across our regions and in our growing capital city.

Opinion polling shows that West Australians understand the huge potential for action on climate change to deliver thousands of new jobs and make WA prosperous and fairer place in a low carbon future.

Now we need a clear target to guide our efforts on climate change and jobs. That’s why Clean State is taking the next step to call for a state-wide Clean Jobs Target for Western Australia.

A clean jobs target will motivate and guide efforts by government, industry and communities in the race towards a cleaner, fairer and more prosperous future for WA.

What is a Clean Jobs Target?

Targets for employment creation are not new for WA however the Clean Jobs Target is different.

Clean State proposes that through a combination of the creation of new jobs and actions to make existing jobs clean, we can create up to 350,000 Clean Jobs in WA by 2025.

This means almost any job in WA has the potential to contribute towards the Target.

70 000 new clean jobs by 2025 under our Jobs Plan

The Clean State Jobs Plan shows how practical action on climate change can create well over 200,000 new clean jobs for WA working families. With the right leadership Clean State believe that we can deliver at least 70,000 in the next 5 years.

These include new jobs in renewable energy, sustainable transport, carbon farming, green metals, Aboriginal tourism, recycling, conservation and social housing construction.

An additional 190,000 existing jobs could be made clean by 2025 through our Jobs Plan

Thousands of new jobs in clean industries is a huge opportunity for WA but making existing jobs clean is even more exciting for our state.

We estimate that our Jobs Plan would make 190 000 existing jobs clean. For example:

• Teachers, nurses and workers across the public sector where buildings are decarbonised and powered by renewable energy and batteries
• Miners and employees in the LNG industry working for companies that have gone carbon neutral and offset their emissions
• Farm workers that have incorporated conservation partnerships and carbon farming into their businesses
• Tourism and hospitality jobs in businesses that have switched to solar, and
• Mechanics, tradies, and drivers supporting the Electric Vehicle revolution.

Another 90 000 jobs could be made clean through action by businesses

Beyond our plan there is also huge opportunity for even more clean jobs as businesses show leadership and take action on climate change in line with our Jobs Plan. This could include going carbon neutral, improving energy efficiency, repowering with renewables, using electric vehicles, switching to clean manufacturing, or embracing regenerative farming practices.

Clean State have calculated that if just 10 of WA’s biggest employers became carbon neutral by 2025, this would make 90 000 existing jobs clean.

Many businesses and workplaces have already cut pollution to zero, becoming clean employers while saving money and growing their businesses.

Almost every job and workplace in WA has the potential to contribute to the Clean Jobs Target.

Measuring progress

With any target it is important to measure progress. Reports against the WA Clean Jobs Target will be required every year to keep track of progress towards the 2025 goal of 350,000 clean jobs as part of the WA Clean Jobs Target.