THE INK has barely dried on the COP26 Glasgow Pact, and Woodside Energy has made a disastrous move for the climate and the economy by greenlighting its polluting Scarborough gas project.
The project — Australia’s largest new fossil fuel development in almost a decade — is not only unnecessary and expensive, but will increase emissions at a time when the world is rapidly shifting away from fossil fuels.
The announcement comes after 197 countries – including Australia – pledged to move away from polluting fossil fuels at COP26.
Climate Councillor Greg Bourne said: “Woodside is trying to convince Australians that Scarborough is ‘clean’ when nothing could be further from the truth. Liquified gas contributes strongly to global warming and it slows down the adoption of crucial renewable and zero emissions energy.
“It is abundantly clear that the Morrison government’s net zero by 2050 commitment was designed to mislead and always included expansions of gas from WA, the NT and continual exports of coal.
“The International Energy Agency has made it very clear that there can be no new coal, oil and gas fields if we are to limit temperature increases to below the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees.
“Gas is on the way out. Australian homes and businesses are moving away from gas for economic and health reasons. This is a trend that will only continue because electrification is more efficient, affordable, and thanks to renewable energy, is cleaner and healthier.
“Climate change and renewable energy policies continue to make renewable electricity more competitive against gas. Expanding or extending the gas industry is totally at odds with the science.”
ENDS
- Read the ‘Gas: Dangerous, Expensive and Unnecessary’ report HERE.
- Read the ‘Passing Gas: Why Renewables are the Future’ report HERE.
For interviews please contact Hannah Izzard 0475 247 754 or Jane Gardner on 0438 130 905
The Climate Council is Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation. We provide authoritative, expert and evidence-based advice on climate change to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.
For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au
Or follow us on social media: facebook.com/climatecouncil and twitter.com/climatecouncil