WAGA has a useful role in advocating for supportive state and national climate-related policy and advising relevant government agencies in this regard on behalf of its members. Advocacy in relation to the WAGA councils’ shared or aligned goals contributes a joint and therefore stronger voice from the region and is an efficient way for the councils to communicate their requirements to other levels of government.

WAGA’s advocacy focuses on:

• Climate policy directly (emissions reduction and adaptation targets and policies)
• Renewable energy (targets, support mechanisms, relevant infrastructure and technologies such as electric vehicles)
• Climate-related issues which involve local government’s core business (for example, land use planning)
• Support for local government to take appropriate action (for example, funding for energy efficient infrastructure such as major road lights).