Andrew Forrest has called on the Western Australian Government to speed up green energy approvals, saying climate ambitions must be translated into construction ahead of the Global Citizen NOW: Perth event.
The billionaire chairman of Fortescue said the gathering should be used to demonstrate what can be built in Western Australia and carry that ambition through to the next United Nations climate conference, COP31.
“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,” Mr Forrest said.
The event will take place at the Perth Convention Centre on October 19 and 20, alongside Global Citizen Nights: Perth, a free show. It aims to accelerate action on clean energy, electrification and global development.
Global Citizen NOW: Perth brings energy leaders together
The action summit will bring together representatives from government, business, philanthropy, First Nations communities and civil society. Organisers hope to secure commitments aimed at providing energy access to millions of people.
Mr Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation is a presenting partner of the event, which was co-created by Perth local Michael Sheldrick. The organisation said Global Citizen events had helped raise more than $71 billion to end extreme poverty and involved public figures including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Coldplay and Lady Gaga, as well as leaders such as Justin Trudeau and Ban Ki-moon.
Fortescue is building a renewable energy system in the Pilbara to power its mines. Mr Forrest said the company had committed to “Real Zero by 2030”, eliminating Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its Australian iron ore operations without offsets.
“This is about more than changing how one company operates,” he said. “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.”
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook is due to deliver one of the opening speeches, focusing on the state’s role as a centre for energy and economic development.
“Global Citizen NOW is bringing together the people who can turn shared challenges into investment and action,” Mr Cook said.
He said the event would showcase Western Australia as the “State of Energy” and highlight its contribution to the global transition while creating jobs and opportunities at home.
“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,” Mr Cook said.
