THE CLIMATE COUNCIL is calling on the Albanese Government to pause all polluting project approvals until the Parliament has dealt with upcoming reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act).
The Government has promised a stronger EPBC Act. But while the reform process stretches on with no legislation in sight, new fossil fuel projects are being approved and more loom in the pipeline.
In news today, more climate wrecking gas could be on the table for Western Australia after the state’s Environmental Protection Authority reaffirmed its recommendation to give Woodside’s Pilbara gas processing facility a 50-year extension to operate until 2070. This is in spite of more than 750 appeals filed against the proposal, reflecting deep-seated public concern about the project’s contribution to dangerous climate change.
This extension could underpin the exploitation of new gas fields including the carbon bombs Scarborough and Browse. These projects are among the 22 fossil fuel proposals sitting in the EPBC pipeline right now that could be approved at any time.
Should Woodside’s plans to keep pumping more gas well into the second half of this century be approved, it would herald Australia’s largest global contribution to climate change, swamping any other national efforts to cut harmful emissions.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “Australia’s main national environmental law currently fails to protect our precious species and ecosystems from the biggest threat they face: escalating climate change.
“The EPBC Act has a gaping hole at its heart because it does not explicitly require the government to protect a safe and liveable climate for us all, or directly consider the destructive impact of harmful carbon pollution.
“Fossil fuel projects should not keep waltzing through this gap: project approvals should be paused until our Parliament has a chance to deal with it.”
Dr Jennifer Rayner, Head of Advocacy at the Climate Council said: “Leaving climate out of our main national environment law is like playing in the World Cup without a goalie – it leaves our environment dangerously exposed.
“Without a strong and effective EPBC Act, fossil fuel projects will keep getting the go-ahead, putting Australian communities and our environment alike at risk from more bushfires, floods and extreme weather fuelled by climate change.
“The International Energy Agency is clear: there can be no new investments in coal, oil or gas projects if the global energy sector is to meet its emission reduction targets and help avoid catastrophic climate change.
“The Albanese Government needs to step on the accelerator with its reforms and bring a bill to Parliament so we can have the debate Australia needs about properly protecting our climate.
“Waving through massive polluting projects while soft pedaling on environmental law reform is surely not the legacy this government hopes to leave.”
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For interviews please contact George Hyde on 0431 330 919 or george.hyde@climatecouncil.org.au, or Zerene Catacutan on 0438 972 260 or zerene.catacutan@climatecouncil.org.au.
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