Here’s how Western Australia is working to reduce emissions

Western Australia is hard at work to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change.

Projects such as the Chevron-led construction of a microgrid in the coastal town of Onslow, powered by solar and natural gas, or the development of carbon capture technologies that help to ‘trap’ emissions, are helping to lead the change towards a lower emissions future.

Natural gas producers are also involved in major activities to help reduce emissions, such as Woodside’s work with environmental group Greening Australia to plant more than 500 million trees across Australia by 2030. The team recently announced it had planted more than three million trees in WA’s Great Southern region in the last season alone as part of this ongoing reforestation project. 

Across the world, industry and Governments are working together on projects like these to address climate change and its impacts. The 2016 Paris Agreement, created by the United Nations, sets out a framework for governments across the world to work together to meet climate targets, and almost every country in the world has signed the agreement. 

Importantly, achieving net zero emissions isn’t the same thing as producing no emissions at all — it is instead defined as the amount of greenhouse gas that can be produced by humans without affecting the atmosphere, whether they be offset through natural means (such as trees) or other man-made solutions. 

Australia was among the first signatories of the Paris Agreement and is working to reduce its emissions in numerous ways. Western Australia, as a major resources and manufacturing state, has a significant part to play in these plans. 

The natural gas industry is a big part of Western Australian life, particularly in regional communities. The industry provides over 60% of the state’s electricity, creates local jobs, supports even more jobs through supplier contracts and delivers community investment across our suburbs and regions.  

Because natural gas is a lower emissions energy when compared to fossil fuels such as coal, it plays a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions within Australia, and overseas through the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG). It’s also the perfect complement to renewable technologies, as gas-fired generators can be rapidly fired up to provide electricity and grid stability during peaks in demand or when wind or solar is intermittent. 

Both major parties involved with the upcoming Western Australian election this 13 March have committed to strong climate change goals involving the use of both natural gas and renewables that could help to boost jobs and the economy. With numerous projects already on the go, it’s safe to say that natural gas will be around in Western Australia for a long time to come.