Andrew Forrest, billionaire chairman of mining giant Fortescue, is calling on the government to accelerate green approvals and turn climate ambition into real-world construction.
In the lead up to the Global Citizen NOW: Perth event this week, Forrest says key industry stakeholders should use the platform to help make a tangible difference towards clean energy in WA.
“Global Citizen NOW: Perth puts Western Australia’s experience in front of the world. We should use that platform to show what can be built here and take that ambition into COP31 (the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference),” Forrest told this masthead.
“You don’t deliver an energy transition by talking about it. You deliver it by the Government doing what it is elected to do and providing approvals in the best interest of Western Australians, then immediately getting on and building it.”
Forrest’s charity Minderoo Foundation is a presenting partner of the Global Citizen NOW: Perth event which was co-created by Perth local Michael Sheldrick.
The organisation has helped to raise more than $71 billion to end extreme poverty and has seen big names such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Coldplay and Lady Gaga along with world leaders from Justin Trudeau to Ban Ki-moon get involved in Global Citizen events.
On October 19 and 20, Global Citizen NOW: Perth – an action summit – and Global Citizen Nights: Perth – a free show – will be held at the Perth Convention Centre with a goal to accelerate action on clean energy, electrification and global development.
The action summit will run across both days and bring together leaders from government, business, philanthropy, First Nations communities and civil society to secure commitments to help provide energy access to millions of people.
Forrest said his company Fortescue is building the renewable energy system in the Pilbara to power their mines.
“We’ve made a clear commitment: Real Zero by 2030, eliminating Scope 1 and 2 emissions from our Australian iron ore operations without offsets,” he said.
“This is about more than changing how one company operates.
“The world needs abundant, affordable energy. Reliable power gives people opportunity and gives regions like Western Australia the chance to build new industries and create jobs.”
Premier Roger Cook will be giving one of the opening speeches at the event about what it means for WA to be a State of Energy.
“Twenty years ago, the idea of world leaders gathering in Perth to discuss the future of energy and economic development would have seemed unlikely,” Cook told this masthead.
“Today, Perth sits at the centre of one of the most dynamic regions in the world, and the conversations taking place here matter not just for Western Australia, but for our region and beyond.
“Global Citizen NOW is bringing together the people who can turn shared challenges into investment and action.”
He said the event acted as an opportunity to highlight WA as the State of Energy and show how it is helping to drive the global energy transition while simultaneously creating jobs and opportunities at home.
“WA has built its prosperity by taking on big challenges,” he said.
“The next challenge is ensuring we capture the opportunities that come with the transition to a lower-emissions future and continue building the industries that will power our economy for decades to come.
“Global Citizen NOW is about bringing people together, forging partnerships and making sure WA continues to play a leading role in powering growth and helping power the world’s transition.”