Speaking in the lead-up to the October 19-20 event, Forrest said Western Australia should use the platform to show what can be built and take that ambition to COP31, the next United Nations climate conference.
“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 told this masthead.
Forrest’s charity, the Minderoo Foundation, is a presenting partner of the summit, which was co-created by Perth local Michael Sheldrick. Global Citizen events have raised more than $71 billion to fight extreme poverty and have drawn celebrities such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Coldplay and Lady Gaga, as well as world leaders including Justin Trudeau and Ban Ki-moon.
The action summit will bring together leaders from government, business, philanthropy, First Nations communities and civil society to secure commitments for energy access. Premier Roger Cook, who will deliver an opening speech, said the conversations taking place in Perth matter beyond Western Australia.
“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 said. “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.”
Cook described the event as an opportunity to highlight WA as a “State of Energy” and to capture the opportunities of a lower-emissions future.
Forrest noted that his company Fortescue is building a renewable energy system in the Pilbara to power its mines and has committed to “Real Zero by 2030,” eliminating Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its Australian iron ore operations without offsets.
“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,” he said.