By Wendellyn Mateo
A major liquified gas plant in Australia is expected to keep running for decades after the government approved a 40-year extension for the project, even amid protests from climate advocates and some Pacific Island nations.
Overseen by resources giant Woodside, the North West Shelf Extension gas project was originally slated to halt operations after five years.
But Environment Minister Murray Watt on Wednesday approved an extension that will see it run until 2070 – much to the dismay of Pacific nations, which have already warned they could drop their support for Australia’s bid to host COP31.
Officials promise “strict conditions”
Watt said the extension will be “subject to strict conditions” that will limit the impact of emissions, especially on the Murujuga rock art on the Burrup peninsula.
“I have ensured that adequate protection for the rock art is central to my proposed decision”, Watt was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The Murujuga landscape is at risk from industrial pollution including from the gas plant. The United Nations advisory body warned when Australia had nominated the landscape for the World Heritage listing in 2023.
On the other hand, Woodside welcomed the decision and said they would review the proposed conditions “to understand their application”.
It added it was committed to safeguarding the Murujuga cultural landscape, expressing support for its World Heritage nomination.
Fightback from climate advocates, Pacific nations
Meanwhile, Australia’s Climate Council called the approval a “failure of leadership” that stained the climate record of the federal government.
The project was cleared in December by the state government of Western Australia.
Nearly 800 appeals from activists had been considered in that decision.
However, the federal government did not immediately make a call, delaying the decision twice ahead of the general elections in May.
Pacific Island nations had also been vocal against the move.
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“Pacific leaders have made it clear: there is no future for our nations if fossil fuel expansion continues”, Tuvalu Climate Minister Maina Talia said ahead of Australia’s decision in a report from PACNEWS, citing Renew Economy.
“The North West Shelf Extension would lock in emissions until 2070, threatening our survival and violating the spirit of the Pacific-tuakoi (neighbour) climate partnership. “
“If Australia wants to host COP31 with us, it must uphold the trust we placed in it by permanently rejecting this project.”
“This goes beyond politics. It is about the moral clarity to stand with those most affected by climate change”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, during his election campaign, said Adelaide could become the host city for the COP31 global climate conference next year – should its joint bid with Pacific nations succeed.
Australia is competing with Turkey in securing the hosting rights of the event, which attracts thousands of policymakers, executives and climate advocates.
Authorities are expected to announce the venue for the summit during negotiations slated this year in Brazil.
World on track to exceed 1.5C benchmark for average warming
This also comes amid warnings from the UN that there is a 70 percent chance the average warming could exceed the 1.5 one-point-five degrees Celsius benchmark from 2025-2029.
According to the annual climate report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) released this week, historic levels of warming will remain following the two hottest years in 2023 and 2024.
WMO deputy secretary-general Ko Barrett said the world had just recorded 10 of the warmest years.
“Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet”, Barrett said.
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