The federal government’s decision to extend the Woodside North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia has been approved. This decision is a big deal for the gas industry. Yet this controversial approval comes with ironclad conditions. These are all examples of measures that contribute to bridging the environmental and cultural impacts associated with the project.
The controversial Woodside gas project, meanwhile, is located in the Pilbara, just a stone’s throw away from Murujuga. This region is well known for its amazing petroglyphs. These remarkable rock engravings amount to more than a million. They’re some of the largest and most biodiverse on Earth, some are more than an astonishing 50,000 years old. In July, UNESCO acknowledged the universal significance of these petroglyphs by inscribing them on the World Heritage list.
Even with the final federal green light, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from environmental leaders and Indigenous advocates. Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s climate change minister at the time of the approval, called the move “internationally wrongful” and legally damaging. He nailed it when he said that expanding fossil fuel production is illegal under international law, a fact now widely recognized by many youth across the region.
“The advisory opinion of the ICJ made it clear that going down the fossil fuel production expansion is an internationally wrongful act under international law,” – Ralph Regenvanu
The federal government’s approval of the project came with 48 detailed conditions. These conditions are intended to avoid, mitigate, or offset any potential harm to Murujuga’s ancient rock art. These rapidly shifting conditions require unprecedented, or at least unimaginable, reductions in emissions. Some pollutants need to be reduced 60% or more by the year 2030! Moreover, these restrictions will extend past 2030, showing the federal government’s dedication to combating the effects of climate change long-term.
Advocates remain worried about the long-term environmental impact of the massive project. Critics warn that it will create more than four billion tonnes of climate pollution. This should raise very serious questions about its sustainability. Raelene Cooper, a Mardathoonera woman and traditional custodian of the Murujuga country, articulated her concerns over the government’s decision.
“We are all asking the same question across Australia and the Pacific — what is this government doing?” – Raelene Cooper
The approval process has highlighted tensions between economic development and environmental preservation, particularly in areas of cultural significance like Murujuga. The federal government is still pushing the project. To be successful, it needs to meet the challenges, especially by addressing the complexities and heeding the concerns raised by Indigenous communities and environmental advocates.
