The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is reviewing its Environmental Factor Guideline – Greenhouse Gas Emissions and invites stakeholders and members of the community to provide feedback on the draft.
The purpose of these guidelines, first introduced in April 2020, is to communicate how the greenhouse gas emissions are considered by the EPA in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.
Since the original guideline was published, the EPA has assessed proposals from some of the State’s biggest emitters and recommended conditions requiring proponents to reach net zero by 2050 or sooner.
EPA Chair Professor Matthew Tonts said ensuring that the guidance was contemporised meant the Authority was better equipped to make recommendations that adequately reflected climate risks in Western Australia.
Professor Tonts said the contemporised GHG guidance included the EPA’s view that proponents should achieve deep and substantial reductions by 2030 and net zero emissions through a straight-line trajectory from 2030 to 2050.
“The EPA acknowledges the need for deep and substantial emission reductions this decade consistent with the Paris Agreement and the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,” he said.
“When the EPA considers this guideline during an assessment, proponents will be required to develop a GHG management plan which commits to delivering regular reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the proposal.”
Generally, the EPA will consider GHG emissions from a proposal when they are likely to exceed 100,000 tonnes CO2-e of scope 1 or scope 2 emissions per year.
Professor Tonts said eight-weeks of consultation would provide valuable feedback on the draft guidance.
Environmental groups, industry, business and members of the public are invited to provide feedback on the key changes and draft via the EPA’s Consultation Hub from today until 21 September 2022.
EPA Media Contact: Jenni Storey on 0434 734 997
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