Australia’s decision to extend the Woodside gas project and implications for co-hosting COP31 with the Pacific
The Pacific Elders’ Voice notes with deep concern the recent decision by the Government of Australia (GOA) to extend the lifetime of its Woodside North West Shelf Extension gas project until 2070. The gas project has been described by environmentalists as a “carbon bomb.” Analysis by The Australia Institute says the emissions from Woodside’s Burrup Hub expansion – which includes the North West Shelf Extension – would be greater than all the emissions from all of Australia’s coal power stations each year. According to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, backed by 11 Pacific island nations and territories, this is equivalent to 200 years of combined emissions from 14 Pacific Island nations.
This action flies in the face of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) seeking genuine Green House Gas reduction by large emitters to ensure the 1.5 degrees centigrade temperature goal set under the Paris Agreement is not breached. It would also seem deliberately neglectful of the climate related floods which recently destroyed the lives of communities in parts of Australia.
We echo Tuvalu’s Climate Minister, Dr Maina Talia’s comment that “Pacific leaders have made it clear: there is no future for our nations if fossil fuel expansion continues. 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.”
Numerous reports, including from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), underscore the impact of climate change on SIDS, in particular the Atoll states which face existential threats. This has huge implications for their statehood and survival given the direct impact on food, water, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Australia’s actions in approving these mines which will increase emissions and enhance global warming leading to the demise of small islands is a slap in the face of fellow member nations of the Pacific Islands Forum. As a member of the Forum, Australia’s actions are in sharp contradiction to its platitudes around caring for the Pacific ‘family.’ The Woodside project is a demonstration of Australia’s glaring disconnect between rhetoric and action.
Considering the decision by the GOA, ironically taken on the eve of a decision by the UNFCCC on the hosting right for the next UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP31) in 2026, shows that Australia is not being a trustworthy Forum partner in tackling the Pacific’s number one security threat. Pacific Elders strongly believe that given the above developments, the efforts by Australia in securing the support of Pacific Island Countries to cohost COP31 seriously compromises the security of our Pacific communities and grossly undermines the spirit of partnership and trust in our Pacific family. We cannot, with a clear conscience, condone an action which knowingly endangers the future of our people and indeed that of humanity.
PEV believes the COP is a forum to discuss solutions to combat climate change and assess the progress of commitments made and encourages the international communities to do the right thing. Our hosting should be consistent with our desires and commitments to move forward NOT slide back.
