Why this new climate case against the high-polluting Scarborough gas project is so significant

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 19:13:24 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/why-this-new-climate-case-against-the-high-polluting-scarborough-gas-project-is-so-significant-185578>

"A major new climate case to stop Woodside’s controversial Scarborough gas
project going ahead has been filed by the Australian Conservation Foundation
(ACF) in the federal court this week. ACF lawyers argue that the potential for
the project’s emissions to harm the Great Barrier Reef must be assessed.

While the case has only just begun, as legal experts, we see this as a landmark
challenge.

Gas is often presented as a “transition fuel” towards a green economy. Woodside
argues the Scarborough development will help to reduce global emissions by
replacing coal with “cleaner” gas. But scientists say gas must rapidly exit the
global power sector to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5℃ temperature goal in
reach.

Indeed, a 2021 study found if the full Scarborough-Pluto project goes ahead,
it’ll release over three times Australia’s current annual emissions.

ACF’s case against Woodside will be an important test of Australia’s new
climate credentials. It will also fundamentally confront the question: what
role, if any, will gas play in the energy transition?"

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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