Albanese Government's 'Climate Policy' - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

• Approval of North West Shelf gas project extension
• Rejection of 'climate trigger' in environmental legislation
• Emissions reduction progress below expectations
• Australia's bid to host COP31 amid criticism
• Severe droughts affecting rural Australia

Approval of North West Shelf Gas Project Extension

In a move that has drawn significant criticism from environmental groups, the Albanese government approved a 45-year conditional extension of the North West Shelf liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

Critics argue this decision undermines Australia's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

The government's justification centres on economic benefits and energy security, but environmentalists contend such long-term fossil fuel projects are incompatible with climate goals^[1].

Rejection of 'Climate Trigger' in Environmental Legislation

Efforts to incorporate a 'climate trigger', a mechanism to assess the climate impact of major projects, into Australia's environmental laws have been stymied.

Despite support from the Greens and environmental advocates, the Albanese government has resisted these calls, citing concerns over regulatory complexity and potential impacts on economic development^[2].

This stance has led to tensions within the government and with environmental stakeholders.

Emissions Reduction Progress Below Expectations

Data indicates that Australia's greenhouse gas emissions reductions are falling short of national targets.

The reliance on carbon offsets and the continued support for fossil fuel projects have been cited as factors impeding more substantial progress.

Analysts warn that without more aggressive policies and a shift away from fossil fuels, Australia risks missing its emissions reduction commitments^[3].

Australia's Bid to Host COP31 Amid Criticism

Australia's campaign to host the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) has been met with scepticism from the international community.

Critics argue the country's domestic climate policies do not align with the leadership role it seeks on the global stage.

The approval of new fossil fuel projects and the slow pace of emissions reductions have been highlighted as areas of concern^[4].

Severe Droughts Affecting Rural Australia

Parts of southern Australia, including Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and New South Wales, are experiencing intense and prolonged droughts.

These conditions have had devastating effects on agriculture and rural communities.

Environmental experts link these extreme weather events to climate change and criticise the government's inadequate response to both the immediate crisis and its underlying causes^[5].

Links

1. Approval of North West Shelf gas project extension ↩︎
2. Rejection of 'climate trigger' in environmental legislation ↩︎
3. Emissions reduction progress below expectations ↩︎
4. Australia's bid to host COP31 amid criticism ↩︎
5. Severe droughts affecting rural Australia ↩︎

The Climate Denial Playbook: Lies and Liars - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

                  Key Points

• Fossil fuel companies funded denial
• "Climategate" falsely discredited scientists
• Cherry-picking weather to deny climate
• Media bias through false balance
• The 97% scientific consensus

The Origins of Denial

For decades, fossil fuel giants like ExxonMobil knew that burning coal, oil, and gas was warming the planet. 

Internal documents from the late 1970s and early 1980s show they understood the science clearly, yet they chose to fund denial campaigns instead of transitioning to cleaner alternatives^[1].

Rather than warn the public, industry lobby groups like the Global Climate Coalition spent millions casting doubt on the science. 

Their strategy? Mimic Big Tobacco’s denial model: hire PR firms, sow uncertainty, and attack climate scientists.

Weaponising Misinformation

One of the most infamous examples of manufactured controversy was “Climategate.” 

In 2009, hackers released selectively edited emails from climate scientists, falsely suggesting data manipulation. 

Conservative media outlets seized the moment. 

Headlines screamed “Fraud!”—but multiple investigations later found no wrongdoing^[2]. 

The scientists were exonerated; the damage was done.

The denial movement thrives on misdirection. They exploit short-term cold snaps to argue “global warming isn’t real,” ignoring long-term data showing the planet heating up^[3]. 

This tactic, cherry-picking weather over climate, is still rampant across social media and tabloid headlines.

The Myth of “Both Sides”

Another major contributor to public confusion is the media’s flawed commitment to “balance.” 

For years, news programs would pit a climate scientist against a paid skeptic, giving the illusion of a 50-50 scientific split. In reality, more than 97% of climate scientists agree: humans are driving climate change^[5].

This false equivalence misled millions, delaying public action and influencing policy. 

Major networks have since improved, but the damage lingers—especially in countries where political ideologies treat climate science as a partisan issue.

Follow the Money

A 2015 InsideClimate News investigation revealed Exxon had climate modelling capabilities that rivalled those of NASA in the 1980s. 

Yet the company chose to invest in anti-science campaigns, funding think tanks and pseudo-academics to argue against regulation^[1].

Groups like the Heartland Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute continue to receive funding from fossil fuel interests, producing misleading white papers and school curriculum guides. 

Their aim? Keep fossil fuel profits flowing—regardless of ecological cost.

The Consequences of Doubt

The result of these lies isn’t just confusion—it’s catastrophe. 

Every year of delay means more devastating bushfires, stronger cyclones, rising sea levels, and displaced communities. 

Australia’s own climate record is a grim warning: hotter summers, deadly floods, and a vanishing Great Barrier Reef.

Yet denial persists. It shape-shifts: from “climate change isn’t real” to “it’s real but not urgent” to “it’s too late.” 

These narratives serve the same master—inaction.

The Truth Wins—Eventually

Despite decades of deception, the truth is rising like the mercury. 

The scientific consensus is overwhelming. Renewable energy is cheaper than ever. Youth movements, Indigenous leadership, and frontline communities are demanding justice.

The climate denial machine is running out of time. But so are we. 

To fight back, we must not only act, we must name the lies, follow the money, and remember who misled us. 

Footnotes 

• [1] InsideClimate News. “Exxon: The Road Not Taken”.
• [2] BBC. “Climategate scientists cleared of manipulating data”.
• [3] NASA. “Scientific Consensus: Earth's Climate is Warming”.
• [4] The Guardian. “False balance in climate coverage”.
• [5] Environmental Research Letters. “Consensus on consensus: a synthesis”.

Climate Change and the Australian Economy: A 2025 Outlook - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Points

• Drought devastates agricultural output in 2025
• Insurance premiums surge due to extreme weather
• Investors demand corporate climate accountability
• 30% of oceans to be highly protected by 2030
• Albanese: Climate policy is ‘based on reality’

Drought Deepens Economic Divide

In 2025, Australia’s agricultural sector is facing one of its worst droughts in recent memory.

Parts of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and inland New South Wales are seeing record-low rainfall. 

Crops are failing, stock losses are mounting, and water supplies are running dangerously low. [1]

Many farmers are being forced to sell off livestock and equipment to stay afloat. Rural towns that rely on agriculture are watching their local economies contract.

While some have tried adaptation measures like switching crops or water-saving technology, the pace and scale of the drought have overwhelmed efforts.

Farmers and economists are calling for long-term national policies to help bridge the growing divide between rural hardship and urban prosperity. [1]

Insurance Costs Soar Amid Climate Risks

Rising global temperatures are pushing insurance premiums higher across Australia.

Regions hit by fire, floods, and cyclones, such as the northern coast and flood-prone river basins, are seeing increases of over 30% in household insurance rates.

In some areas, entire communities are being priced out of basic home cover. 

The global reinsurance market, reacting to events like the 2025 California wildfires, is passing risk down to domestic providers. [2]

This rising financial burden, particularly on lower-income households, is compounding Australia’s already stressed cost-of-living crisis.

Investors Push for Climate Accountability

Australia’s investment community is increasingly aligning with global climate finance goals.

The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) released its 2025 report showing that superannuation funds and institutional investors are prioritising climate risk disclosure.

Companies are being pressured to set clear net-zero targets and disclose the physical climate risks to their operations. [3]

For many investors, climate performance is no longer an ethical issue, it’s a material financial risk that directly affects returns and long-term viability.

Government Initiatives and Policy Measures

The Albanese government has announced a major boost to marine and biodiversity protections.

By 2030, Australia aims to classify 30% of its ocean territory as “highly protected,” banning industrial fishing and seabed mining in these zones. [4]

In parallel, the federal climate strategy remains centred on achieving a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030, and net-zero by 2050.

Speaking in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated that “climate targets are not ideological, they’re based on scientific and economic reality.” [5]

Yet critics say these measures still fall short of the urgent cuts required, particularly in sectors like transport and fossil fuel exports.

Footnotes

• [1] The Guardian: Parts of Australia are suffering another devastating drought
• [2] The Australia Institute: Cost-of-Living and the Climate Crisis (PDF)
• [3] IGCC: Australia’s 2025 State of Net Zero Investment Report
• [4] The Guardian: Ocean Protections by 2030
• [5] News.com.au: Albanese on Climate Targets

Australia’s Climate Crossroads: Progress, Peril, and Policy in Mid-2025 - Lethal Heating Editor BDA

Key Developments

1. Deadly algal bloom devastates Coorong wetlands 2. Amazon commits $20B to AI and renewables in Australia 3. Record ocean temperatures threaten marine ecosystems 4. Government pushes for EPBC Act overhaul amid concerns 5. Climate Change Authority proposes 65–75% cut by 2035

 Environmental Alarms in the Wetlands

As Australia approaches the midpoint of 2025, the nation finds itself at a critical juncture in its climate journey. 

While strides have been made in renewable energy investments and policy reforms, escalating environmental crises underscore the urgency for decisive action.

In South Australia's Coorong wetlands, a catastrophic algal bloom of Karenia mikimotoi has led to the death of over 200 marine species. 

Triggered by nutrient-rich waters and a recent marine heatwave, the bloom has decimated estuarine life, including crabs and flounder, vital to the ecosystem's food chain. Experts attribute this disaster to long-term environmental degradation and climate change-induced factors. [1]

Amazon’s Record-Breaking Green Investment

On the economic front, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a landmark $20 billion investment in Australia's data centre infrastructure through 2029. 

This initiative includes the expansion of facilities in Sydney and Melbourne and the development of three new solar projects totalling over 170MW in capacity. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lauded the move as a significant boost to the nation's AI capabilities and renewable energy sector. [2]

Oceans Set New Records — and New Warnings

However, environmental challenges persist. January and February recorded the hottest sea surface temperatures around Australia since records began in 1900. 

These unprecedented temperatures have profound implications for marine biodiversity and coastal communities. [3]

Rewriting Nature Law — or Weakening It?

In response to mounting environmental concerns, the federal government is revisiting efforts to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. 

Environment Minister Murray Watt aims to implement reforms within 18 months, focusing on national environmental standards and the restoration of threatened species. 

Nonetheless, environmentalists express apprehension over potential compromises and the need for robust climate measures. [4]

Ambitious Emissions Cuts on the Table

The Climate Change Authority (CCA) is nearing a recommendation for Australia's 2035 emissions reduction target, proposing a 65–75% cut. 

This aligns with the nation's commitment to a 43% reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. 

CCA Chair Matt Kean emphasized the importance of aligning with public demand for decisive climate action. [5]

The Balancing Act Ahead

As Australia navigates these developments, the interplay between environmental imperatives and economic ambitions will shape its climate trajectory. 

The nation's ability to balance growth with sustainability remains under scrutiny, both domestically and on the global stage.

Footnotes

1. Deadly algal bloom in South Australia's Coorong an environmental 'eye opener', ecologist says
2. Amazon to invest $13 billion in Australia's data center infrastructure over five years
3. How warming oceans are already changing life across Australia – far beyond the coastline
4. Environmentalists worry as Labor seeks consensus on new federal nature laws
5. 'Weird:' Kean unleashes on Coalition MPs

Global Warming Accelerates: World Nears Critical Climate Threshold

                       Key Points

• Global temperatures rising faster than expected, nearing 1.5°C threshold¹
• New study finds Earth already warmed by 1.39°C²
• 2024 saw first year with average temperatures above 1.5°C³
• May 2025 was the second-warmest May on record⁴
• Atmospheric CO₂ exceeds 430 ppm, highest in history⁵
• Four billion people faced an extra month of extreme heat⁶
• Nearly two-thirds of glacier loss since 1991 due to human activity⁷
• Arctic permafrost thawing, releasing methane⁸
• Over half a million deaths in ten major climate-worsened disasters⁹
• 70% chance five-year global temperature average will exceed 1.5°C¹⁰
• Scientists warn 3°C warming may be new baseline if trends persist¹¹

As the world enters the second half of 2025, the climate crisis has reached a new level of urgency. 

 

Recent scientific assessments show that global temperatures are rising faster than previously estimated, pushing humanity closer to breaching the 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement.

 

This is a symbolic and practical line that, if crossed, could trigger more severe and irreversible climate impacts¹.

A New Calculation, a Stark Warning

A groundbreaking study published this month proposes a more accurate method for calculating global surface air temperature, revealing that the Earth has already warmed by 1.39°C above pre-industrial levels—higher than earlier estimates². 

This refined approach, developed by researchers at the University of Graz, suggests that the planet could consistently surpass the 1.5°C mark as soon as 2028, several years earlier than the widely cited 2030-2035 window. 

The year 2024 already saw global average temperatures temporarily exceed 1.5°C, an unprecedented event that caught climate scientists off guard and signaled an acceleration in warming trends³.

Record-Breaking Heat and Escalating Impacts

May 2025 was the second-warmest May on record globally, trailing only the previous year⁴. 

The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that, while a recent La Niña event brought a short-lived dip in global temperatures, the underlying trend remains upward due to persistent greenhouse gas emissions. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have now surpassed 430 parts per million, the highest in human history, underscoring the relentless accumulation of heat-trapping gases⁵.

Extreme heat has become the most deadly weather-related hazard, with a recent study attributing an extra month of extreme heat for four billion people over the past year directly to human-driven climate change⁶. These heatwaves are linked to increased illness, deaths, agricultural losses, and widespread disruptions to daily life.

Nature’s Tipping Points: Melting Glaciers and Permafrost

The consequences of warming are visible across the globe. Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, with nearly two-thirds of glacial loss between 1991 and 2010 directly attributed to human-caused global warming⁷. 

Since 1980, glaciers have lost an average of nearly 40 feet in thickness, contributing to rising sea levels and threatening coastal communities. Permafrost in the Arctic is also thawing rapidly, releasing methane—a potent greenhouse gas—and creating a feedback loop that accelerates further warming⁸.

Disasters Intensify, Human Toll Mounts

Climate change is amplifying the frequency and severity of natural disasters. More than half a million people have died in just ten major disasters that were made worse by climate change, according to a recent report⁹. 

Hurricanes, drought-fueled wildfires, and catastrophic flooding are becoming more common and more destructive, reshaping landscapes and livelihoods across continents.

The Political and Economic Crossroads

The world’s window to act is narrowing. The United Nations warns that humanity is “perilously close” to exceeding the 1.5°C limit, and the World Meteorological Organization forecasts a 70% chance that the five-year average global temperature from 2025 to 2029 will exceed this threshold¹⁰. 

As world leaders prepare for the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, the challenge of rapidly reducing emissions looms large—especially as global greenhouse gas emissions have yet to peak.

The Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to “well below 2°C” and pursuing efforts to stay under 1.5°C remains technically possible but increasingly difficult. 

The odds of restricting warming to two degrees are now seen as slim, with some scientists warning that three degrees of warming—once considered unthinkable—may be the new baseline if current trends persist¹¹.

A Call for Urgent Action

Despite the grim outlook, experts emphasize that the worst outcomes are not inevitable. The knowledge and technology to curb emissions exist, but decisive policy action and global cooperation are urgently needed. 

The coming years will determine whether the world can avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change—or whether the 1.5°C threshold will become another milestone passed on the road to a hotter, more volatile planet. 

Footnotes

1. The Paris Agreement: United Nations
2. A New Approach to Calculating Global Surface Air Temperature (Nature, 2024)
3. 2024: First Year with Global Temperatures Above 1.5C (BBC News)
4. Copernicus: May 2025 Second Warmest on Record
5. Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Hits New High (NOAA Climate.gov)
6. Four Billion People Endure Extra Month of Extreme Heat (Nature News)
7. Human-Caused Glacier Loss (Nature, 2023)
8. Thawing Permafrost and Methane Release (National Geographic)
9. Half a Million Deaths in Ten Climate-Intensified Disasters (The Guardian)
10. WMO: Global Temperatures Set to Reach New Records
11. Three Degrees: The New Baseline? (New York Times)

What the Fossil Fuel Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know

Lyrebird Dreaming - Gregory Andrews

A new peer-reviewed study from Stanford University scientifically confirms what many of us already know: carbon capture is not only a distraction, it’s more expensive, less effective, and ultimately more dangerous than simply switching to clean, renewable energy.

The fossil fuel industry and its barons don’t want you to know this. Why? Because carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers them an excuse to keep digging, drilling, and polluting under the guise of “solutions.” 

But make no mistake - CCS is a Trojan Horse. And if we let it dominate the climate narrative, we will be locking in emissions, wasting billions, and missing the window to secure a livable planet.

The Truth, Backed by Science

The Stanford study - led by Professor Mark Jacobson and published in Energy and Environmental Science - compared two climate pathways across 149 countries:

• Scenario A: Continue burning fossil fuels but add carbon capture.
• Scenario B: Rapidly replace fossil fuels with wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy.

The results? A complete no-brainer.

• Switching to renewables reduces total energy demand by 54%
• It cuts energy costs by nearly 60% annually
• And it prevents millions of deaths from air pollution each year
• All while being cheaper, faster, and more reliable than CCS

CCS is Expensive, Inefficient, and Misleading

The fossil fuel barons claim CCS can ‘clean up’ coal and gas. But here’s what they don’t say:

• Most CCS projects are powered by fossil fuels themselves, increasing overall emissions.
• Captured carbon is often reused for more oil extraction (aka Enhanced Oil Recovery).
• It costs far more to capture, transport, and store CO₂ than it does to build renewables that don’t emit CO₂ in the first place.
• They can’t ensure CO₂ doesn’t leak from storage sites.

According to Jacobson’s research, carbon capture no matter how advanced can’t match the simplicity or efficiency of replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. Even when powered by zero-emission electricity, CCS still consumes more energy than it saves, making it a net loss for the planet.

The Real Agenda: Delay

Let’s be honest. Carbon capture isn’t about solving the climate crisis. 

It’s about buying time for polluters who are making billions from fossil fuels at the expense of our kids and country.

The fossil fuel lobby knows their social licence is crumbling. Communities are rising. Young people and old are protesting. Investors are pulling out. 

So, the fossil fuel barrons are pushing shiny distractions - like CCS, hydrogen from gas, and “abated” fossil fuels. They’re focused on green washing not real change.

Australia Can’t Afford the Lie

Right now, Australian taxpayers are funding CCS white elephants. Just look at the billions being poured into Santos’ and Woodside’s gas expansion projects, propped up by promises of future carbon capture - despite decades of failure and under-performance.

Meanwhile, rooftop solar is booming. Community batteries are ready. Electrification is slashing bills. First Nation and rural communities are installing renewables for self-reliance and to cut diesel reliance.

The truth is we already have the solutions we need. Clean, reliable, affordable energy is not a dream - it’s a reality lived by millions around the world. What Australia is lacking is political courage and industry honesty.

It’s time to call out carbon capture for what it is: a delay tactic designed to protect fossil fuel profits, not people or the planet.

What You Can Do

• Share this blog. Truth spreads faster than spin.
• Support renewables. Whether it’s a solar panel, a battery, or ditching gas appliances - every action counts.
• Demand better from our government. Ask your MP why billions are going to CCS instead of clean energy.
• Fund real climate action. From grassroots climate movements to First Nations renewable projects, your dollar can drive systemic change.

The bottom line? We don’t need to capture carbon. We just need to stop producing it. 

Links

• Global Warming is Accelerating and Tracking at Worst-Case Scenarios
• Woodside’s Gas Expansion Wipes Out Climate Progress - 50 Times Over
• Albanese Lets Off Biggest-Ever Carbon Bomb
• Youth Voices for Climate and Country: Hope and Action from Southeast Sydney
• Imagine Australia as a Green Energy Superpower: It’s Possible!

Woodside’s North West Shelf approval is by no means a one-off. Here are 6 other giant gas projects to watch

The Conversation - Samantha Hepburn

GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images

Author Samantha Hepburn is a professor at Deakin Law School, Deakin University.  She teaches mining and energy law, environmental law, natural resources law, water law, native title and land law.  Professor Hepburn is the author of Mining and Energy Law and Policy in Australia.

The Federal Government’s decision to extend the life of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant in Western Australia has been condemned as a climate disaster.

The gas lobby claims more gas is needed to secure energy supplies, pointing to predicted gas shortages in parts of Australia in the short term. 

But given most proposed gas projects are directed at the export market, the problem is likely to persist.

The science is clear: no fossil fuel projects can be opened if the world is to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Despite this, a slew of polluting gas projects are either poised to begin operating in Australia, or lie firmly in the sights of industry.

Opponents protesting Woodside’s North West Shelf project, which has been branded an environmental disaster. 
Richard Wainwright/AAP

How Australia’s gas contributes to climate change

Gas production in Australia harms the climate in two ways.

The first is via “fugitive” emissions – leaks and unintentional releases that occur when gas is being extracted, processed and transported. These emissions are typically methane, which traps more heat in the atmosphere per molecule than carbon dioxide.

Fugitive emissions count towards Australia’s greenhouse gas accounts, comprising about 6% of our total emissions.

So, government approval for new gas projects undermines Australia’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions. Labor enshrined this goal in legislation in its previous term of government, and all states and territories have also adopted it.

The second climate harm occurs when Australia’s gas is burned for energy overseas. Those emissions do not count towards our national emissions accounts, but they substantially contribute to global warming.

Under national environment law, the federal government is not required to consider the potential harm a project might cause to the global climate. This loophole means fossil fuel developments can continue to win government backing.

Below, I outline six of the biggest gas projects Australia has in the pipeline.

1. Barossa Gas Project

This A$5.6 billion project by energy giant Santos is located in the Timor Sea, about 300km north of Darwin. The Australian government’s offshore energy regulator approved it in April this year.

The project will extract gas from the Barossa field and transport it to a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility in Darwin for processing and export.

The venture would reportedly be among the worst polluting oil and gas projects in the world. On one estimate, it would release about 380 million tonnes of climate pollution over its 25-year life.

The $3.6 billion Barossa project will transport gas to Darwin via a pipeline. Aaron Bunch/AAP

2. Scarborough Pluto Train 2

Pluto Train 2 is an extension of Woodside’s existing Scarborough project, centred around a gas field about 375km off WA’s Pilbara coast. A 430-kilometre pipeline would connect that gas to a second LNG train at a facility near Karratha. “Train” refers to the unit in a plant that turns natural gas into liquid.

The project has federal and state approval. It is about 80% complete and scheduled to begin operating by next year. According to Climate Analytics, the expansion would create about 9.2 million tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent each year.

3. Surat Phase 2

This coal seam gas project in Gladstone, Queensland, would be operated by Arrow energy – a joint venture between Shell and PetroChina.

It involves substantially expanding existing gas fields by building up to 450 new production wells. The project is expected to supply 130 million cubic feet of gas each day at its peak, and has been opposed by environment groups.

The Surat extension would be built at Gladstone in Queensland. Dave Hunt/AAP

4. Narrabri Gas Project

This $3.6 billion Santos project in northwest New South Wales involves drilling up to 850 coal seam gas wells over 95,000 hectares. The National Native Title Tribunal last month ruled leases for the project could be granted, leaving Santos only a few regulatory barriers to clear.

Environmental groups and Traditional Owners say the project threatens water resources, biodiversity and Indigenous sites. However, the tribunal found the project’s benefits to energy reliability outweighed those concerns.

5. Beetaloo Basin

The Beetaloo Basin is located 500km southeast of Darwin. It covers 28,000 kilometres and is estimated to contain up to 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. A number of companies are vying for the right to develop the huge resource.

It is predicted to emit up to 1.2 billion tonnes over 25 years. A CSIRO report says Beetaloo could be tapped without adding to Australia’s net emissions. However, experts say the report was too optimistic and relies far too heavily on carbon offsets.

Protesters opposing development of the Beetaloo Basin, which contains up to 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. 
Dean Lewins/AAP

6. Browse Basin

Browse Basin, 425 kilometres north of Broome off WA, is considered Australia’s biggest reserve of untapped conventional gas.

Woodside plans to develop the Browse gas fields, but the area is remote and difficult to access. According to the ABC, Woodside’s North West Shelf project is considered the last hope for extracting the valuable resource.

Environmental groups say the project, if approved, would emit 1.6 billion tonnes of climate pollution – three times Australia’s current annual emissions.

The basin is also located near the pristine Scott Reef, a significant coral reef ecosystem.

A major disconnect

The projects listed above, if they proceed, weaken Australia’s efforts to reach its emission reduction goals. And their overall climate impact is truly frightening.

The re-elected Labor government has pledged to revisit attempts to reform national environment laws. This presents a prime opportunity to ensure the climate harms of fossil fuel projects are key to environmental decision making.

Links

• Climate advocates devastated after Woodside North West Shelf project approved until 2070
• Labor accused of ‘gaslighting’ Australians on climate crisis as fossil fuel projects keep getting approve
• AUSTRALIA: Climate Change March Review - Lethal Heating Editor BDA
• Can kelp forests help tackle climate change?
• Greenland’s melting ice caps reveal the true extent of climate change
• Unprecedented heat in the North Atlantic Ocean kickstarted Europe’s hellish 2023 summer. Now we know what caused it
• We asked over 8,700 people in 6 countries to think about future generations in decision-making, and this is what we found