Western Australia’s Economics and Industry Standing Committee (EIS Committee) will be conducting an inquiry into the role of WA in the global effort towards decarbonisation (Decarbonisation Inquiry). This Decarbonisation Inquiry was referred by the Legislative Assembly on 21 August 2025, specifically to inquire into and report on the role of WA in the decarbonisation process of its major trading partners.
The Decarbonisation Inquiry will consider and make recommendations on the pathways WA's major trading partners can take to decarbonise and the potential for WA to contribute to their efforts. There will be a specific focus on how WA can assist with:
- LNG exports to provide energy security as the trading partners exit coal and transition to renewable energy;
- the production of blue and green fuels (such as hydrogen and ammonia);
- the production of green iron; and
- the importance of carbon capture and storage in the context of the foregoing transitions.
The EIS Committee will also consider any current barriers to investment in large scale decarbonisation projects and the pathway towards green fuels, and whether there are any opportunities to seek state and federal support to overcome these barriers.
The Decarbonisation Inquiry is in line with the State Government's Western Australian Climate Policy released in 2020 (Policy). This Policy outlines the WA Government’s aspiration of net zero emissions by 2050 through six focus areas. Notably two of these focus areas are (1) the transformation of energy generation and use and (2) the development of clean manufacturing and future industries, such as renewable hydrogen, future batteries and hydrogen intensive commodities like green steel.
For WA, the decarbonisation journey is both an opportunity to secure a sustainable energy system/industry and also to secure the economic future of our State. As a State, we are incredibly well positioned to have a significant impact – but we cannot stall or wait. The opportunity is now, and the focus industries need support and momentum now.
Submissions for the Decarbonisation Inquiry are now open and will close at midnight on 10 October 2025.