Analysis: WA EPA new Greenhouse Gas Assessment Policy

The new version of the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority’s Environmental Factor Guideline for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG Guideline), published on 16 April 2020, is the latest development in response to the ongoing challenges of assessing and regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change impacts of proposals in WA.

Significantly, the new Guideline establishes an objective ‘to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions in order to minimise the risk of environmental harm associated with climate change’ and outlines requirements for proponents to provide estimates of all scopes of emissions over the life of a proposal and to set targets for ongoing emissions reductions to contribute to net zero emissions. The new Guideline also expressly refers to the Paris Agreement climate goals and the scientific findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Read the story from the Environmental Defenders Office by the Managing Lawyer, EDO Perth, Tim Macknay - “Analysis: WA EPA new Greenhouse Gas Assessment Policy.”