Open letter to WA Premier Mark McGowan

WA needs a plan to cut pollution and create jobs.

Dear Premier McGowan Congratulations on your courage leading our State through the ongoing challenges of Covid-19. Now, our state needs leadership on climate change with a plan to cut pollution and create jobs. WA is the only state where carbon pollution continues to rise. This is holding back efforts at a national and global level. Our pollution is leading to more bushfires, droughts, and heatwaves. It is damaging our envi- ronment and health, harming our economy, and placing our future at risk.

“The people of WA are up to the challenge.”

But the good news is that strong action on climate change will deliver exciting opportunities for business- es and communities and create thousands of new jobs across our state. Action to cut pollution, develop renewable energy, and drive clean industries can power the next major wave of economic development across WA and position our state as a leader in a global clean economy. Around the world, governments, businesses, communities and working families are taking action on cli- mate change and seeing the benefits. The people of WA are up to the challenge. Now your climate policy needs to meet that challenge too, by including the following essential features to cut pollution and create jobs: • Set targets to cut pollution immediately in alignment with Australia’s international obligations and establish regular reporting against these targets. • Develop WA’s huge potential in renewable energy, not increase production of polluting gas • Create new jobs in clean minerals and manufacturing while supporting workers in transition • Protect trees, forests and natural vegetation as critical climate change solutions • Lead by example with a carbon-neutral public sector powered by renewable energy • Support carbon farming and climate positive solutions for our farmers and regions • Drive WA’s uptake of electric vehicles, cycling and public transport We look forward to supporting your leadership to cut pollution and create jobs for our future. Signatories E/Prof. Carmen Lawrence, Senior Honorary Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, School of Psychological Science UWA, Former Premier of WA and President of Conservation Council of WA Prof. Peter Newman AO, Distinguished Professor of Sustainability | Dr. Brad Pettitt, Mayor. City of | Dr. Simon White Managing Director Publicus Pty. Ltd | Dr. Amzad Hossain, Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute | E/Prof. Bev Thiele, Murdoch University | Assoc Prof. Debra S Judge, School of Human Sciences, University of | Prof. Dora Marinova, Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute | Prof. Ullrich Ecker ARC Future Fellow, School of Psychological Science University of Western Australia | Assoc Prof. Andrea Gaynor, History, University of Western Australia | Alison Dalziel, Director of Localise | Dr. Martin Anda, Academic Chair of Environmental Engineering, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University Dr. Robert Cameron, Australian Urban Design Research Centre, UWA | Assoc Prof. Dr. Laura Stocker, Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute | Prof. Bill Grace, Australian Urban Design Research Centre | Dr. Louise E Sparrow | Niki Bignell Masters in Sustainability and Climate Policy | Assoc Prof. Alison Bartlett, English and Literary Studies University of Western Australia | PhD Prof. Pierre Horwitz, Environmental Sciences School of Science Edith Cowan University | Dr. Anthony Duckworth Australian Urban Design Research Centre, UWA | Miss Hannah Sutton, Patrick Ilott, Tierney McCourt, William Westaway, Perspektiv | Dr. Vivienne Glance, Fossil Fuel Free Arts Network | Dr. Jonathan Whale Postgraduate Research Chair, Energy Studies and Renewable Energy Engineering, Murdoch University Michèle Drouart, Writer, Accredited Editor, Committee Member, WA branch of Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) | Angus King, Switched on Solar | Dr. Emma-Leigh Synnott, WA Committee Chair for Doctors for the Environment Australia | David Carter, CEO Austral Fisheries | Kate Vyvyan, Community Education Specialist | Dr. Martina Calais, Discipline of Engineering and Energy, Murdoch University Prof. Thomas Bräunl, Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Western Australia | E/Prof. Roy Jones, Geography, Curtin University | Lionel Johnston, Applied Science, Curtin University Assoc. | E/Prof. Janette Hartz-Karp, Curtin University Co-Director Empowering Participation | Nancy Kennedy, Registered Nurse | Alex Gardner, lawyer, academic and farmer | E/Prof. John Bailey, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University | Adj. Assoc. Prof. Kevin Thiele, President, Wildflower Society of Western Australia | Ross Wortham, Chief Executive Officer Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia | Assoc Prof. Debra Judge, Faculty of Science, School of Human Sciences, UWA | E/Prof. Don Bradshaw, Chair of Zoology and Senior Honorary Research Fellow School of Biological Sciences UWA Prof. Hans Lambers, Senior Honorary Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, School of Biological Sciences UWA | Martin Brueckner, Senior Lecturer in Sustainability , Centre for Responsible Citizenship and Sustainability Murdoch University | Assoc. Dr. Amber Boyatzis, Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences | Jo Vallentine, former W.A. Senator | Christie Kingston, Farmer, AgZero2030 co-founder Kent Broad, AgZero2030 co-founder | Dale Park, Farmer | Wayne Pech, AgZero2030 Cofounder & Farmer | Elizabeth Brennan, Non-Executive Director, Wide Open Agriculture | Alan Meldrum, Agronomist Larissa Taylor, AgZero2030 co-founder | Sue Middleton, farmer | Simon Wallwork, farmer, agronomist, chair AgZero2030 | Cindy Stevens, farmer, AgZero2030 co-founder | Rod Mitchell, National Chair Citizens’ Climate Lobby | Dr. Anne Rainbow, BSc(Vet) BVMS, Veterinarians for Climate Action | Suzie Brown, National Director Australian Parents for Climate Action | Philip Gardiner, Farmer, member of Agzero 2030 | Ronnie Duncan, Non-Executive Director, Wide Open Agriculture | Dr. Neville Ellis, WA academic and contributing author on the IPCC 1.5c Special Report | Ron Kawalilak, Chair, East Freo Farm Inc. | Cathy Hall, MA sustainability and climate policy WA | Robyn Devenish, Order of Australia | Ms Marilyn Buckley | Dr. Tim Kurz, Senior Lecturer in Social and Environmental Psychology UWA Michelle Mackenzie, CEO Shelter WA | Dr. Hugh Finn, Director of Learning & Teaching, Curtin Law School