❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the WA government on its climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies since the 2012 document release, given subsequent record-breaking temperatures. The government acknowledges the document's relevance and outlines ongoing initiatives, deferring specific expenditure details to relevant ministers.
AnsweredQoN 1321Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
''ADAPTING TO OUR CHANGING CLIMATE'' —
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
1321. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
My question without notice, of which
some notice has been given, is to—I am not sure. I am sorry about that.
Hon Donna Faragher : Do you want to have a guess?
Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE : I would assume it was the Minister for
Environment. It is numbered C1425. I do apologise about this. My question
states ''To the'', and then goes to a blank space.
Several members interjected.
Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE : It might be!
I refer to the Western Australian
government document ''Adapting to our changing climate'',
released in October, 2012.
(1) Given every
year since 2012 has been the hottest on record, and amid revelations that 2016
will again be the hottest year on record, does the government have a more
recent document outlining the strategy for mitigation and adaptation of the
devastating effects of climate change in Western Australia?
(2) If no to (1), does the WA
government stand behind the relevance of this document?
(3) With regard
to the 2012 document, what measures has the WA government actually put in place
to mitigate and adapt to climate change?
(4) What is the
total expenditure by the WA government on climate change mitigation and
adaptation strategies since this document was produced?
The PRESIDENT : I will give the call to the virtual
minister for cyberspace!
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
1321. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
My question without notice, of which
some notice has been given, is to—I am not sure. I am sorry about that.
Hon Donna Faragher : Do you want to have a guess?
Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE : I would assume it was the Minister for
Environment. It is numbered C1425. I do apologise about this. My question
states ''To the'', and then goes to a blank space.
Several members interjected.
Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE : It might be!
I refer to the Western Australian
government document ''Adapting to our changing climate'',
released in October, 2012.
(1) Given every
year since 2012 has been the hottest on record, and amid revelations that 2016
will again be the hottest year on record, does the government have a more
recent document outlining the strategy for mitigation and adaptation of the
devastating effects of climate change in Western Australia?
(2) If no to (1), does the WA
government stand behind the relevance of this document?
(3) With regard
to the 2012 document, what measures has the WA government actually put in place
to mitigate and adapt to climate change?
(4) What is the
total expenditure by the WA government on climate change mitigation and
adaptation strategies since this document was produced?
The PRESIDENT : I will give the call to the virtual
minister for cyberspace!
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, Mr President! I will have
to put on my forehead that I represent the Minister for Environment. I thought
that the honourable member would have known that by now. Anyway, there we go.
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The Minister for Environment has provided the following
response —
(1) No.
(2) Yes.
(3) The Western Australian
government's view is that decisions on the design, implementation and
timing of the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions are primarily matters for
the commonwealth government and the federal Parliament so that measures may be
designed in the most economically efficient manner. The Western Australian
government supports complementary efforts to the national mitigation targets.
The government's climate change strategy, ''Adapting to our
changing climate'', released in 2012, establishes a high-level strategic
framework to support agencies developing responses to adapt to climate change.
Initiatives are being implemented in agencies across government to help Western
Australia to adapt to and mitigate climate change. These initiatives include
investment in desalination and other water measures to reduce reliance on
rainwater-dependent sources and ensure public water supply in the face of a drying
climate; the release in July 2013 of a revised state coastal planning policy,
which includes guidance on incorporating sea level rise projections into the
determination of coastal setbacks for new development; the low emissions energy
development fund, which has provided more than $17 million to support
innovative low-emissions energy technologies at the pre-commercialisation
stage; the Western Australian government's state fleet offset program
for passenger and light commercial vehicles; and a trial program evaluating the
use of standalone power systems, integrated battery storage and renewable-based
micro-grids. This includes a $4 million standalone power system pilot project
that is trialling solar panels and battery storage on six rural properties. A
$6.7 million project, led by Synergy and partly funded by the Australian
Renewable Energy Agency, is underway at Alkimos Beach, north of Perth,
trialling community-scale battery storage with high-penetration solar
photovoltaics and energy management.
(4) This question should be put on notice and directed
to relevant ministers responsible for the key areas included in ''Adapting
to our changing climate''. For the member's reference, the
portfolios include water, forestry, energy, planning, agriculture and food,
state development, transport, innovation, science, emergency services,
fisheries, health, culture and the arts, sport and recreation, and environment.
That would be a good
answer, I am sure!
to put on my forehead that I represent the Minister for Environment. I thought
that the honourable member would have known that by now. Anyway, there we go.
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The Minister for Environment has provided the following
response —
(1) No.
(2) Yes.
(3) The Western Australian
government's view is that decisions on the design, implementation and
timing of the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions are primarily matters for
the commonwealth government and the federal Parliament so that measures may be
designed in the most economically efficient manner. The Western Australian
government supports complementary efforts to the national mitigation targets.
The government's climate change strategy, ''Adapting to our
changing climate'', released in 2012, establishes a high-level strategic
framework to support agencies developing responses to adapt to climate change.
Initiatives are being implemented in agencies across government to help Western
Australia to adapt to and mitigate climate change. These initiatives include
investment in desalination and other water measures to reduce reliance on
rainwater-dependent sources and ensure public water supply in the face of a drying
climate; the release in July 2013 of a revised state coastal planning policy,
which includes guidance on incorporating sea level rise projections into the
determination of coastal setbacks for new development; the low emissions energy
development fund, which has provided more than $17 million to support
innovative low-emissions energy technologies at the pre-commercialisation
stage; the Western Australian government's state fleet offset program
for passenger and light commercial vehicles; and a trial program evaluating the
use of standalone power systems, integrated battery storage and renewable-based
micro-grids. This includes a $4 million standalone power system pilot project
that is trialling solar panels and battery storage on six rural properties. A
$6.7 million project, led by Synergy and partly funded by the Australian
Renewable Energy Agency, is underway at Alkimos Beach, north of Perth,
trialling community-scale battery storage with high-penetration solar
photovoltaics and energy management.
(4) This question should be put on notice and directed
to relevant ministers responsible for the key areas included in ''Adapting
to our changing climate''. For the member's reference, the
portfolios include water, forestry, energy, planning, agriculture and food,
state development, transport, innovation, science, emergency services,
fisheries, health, culture and the arts, sport and recreation, and environment.
That would be a good
answer, I am sure!
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