Labor’s Urgent Push: Integrating Climate Considerations into Environmental Legislation

The Albanese government in Australia is feeling heat from its own members to revamp environmental laws, especially after a controversial gas project got a green light. Labor MP Jerome Laxale plans to push the government to align future coal and gas projects with Australia’s climate goals.

Just last week, the government issued a provisional approval for Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant to operate until 2070. This decision is part of Woodside’s larger goal to tap into the Browse gas field, which is Australia’s biggest untouched gas reserve.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that this approval was the only feasible choice under existing environmental regulations. He highlighted attempts to amend these laws during the last election cycle, underscoring that changes were debated for almost two years.

The government did entertain the idea of rewriting these laws but shelved plans for a dedicated environmental protection agency. An earlier proposal called the “Nature Positive Plan” suggested that future approvals would take emissions into account. However, these plans have yet to gain traction in the Senate, mainly due to pushback from certain state leaders.

Laxale, who is involved with Labor’s Environment Action Network, insists that heavy-polluting projects should not hinder Australia’s climate ambitions. He argues that it’s crucial to ensure that such projects do not prevent the country from hitting its emissions targets.

Looking ahead, one significant project awaiting approval is Woodside’s Browse project, along with a carbon capture initiative. The timeline for implementing new environmental laws might not align with the approval processes for Browse, leaving questions about regulatory compliance. Projects like the North West Shelf are already bound by Australia’s climate goals through existing safeguard mechanisms.

Under these safeguards, emissions caps will progressively tighten, pushing toward net zero by 2050. While heavy-emitting projects have to manage their own direct emissions, who ultimately bears responsibility for the emissions produced when the gas is sold is a complex matter.

Woodside is exploring carbon capture and storage to help meet these stringent requirements. Initially skeptical about the feasibility of capturing carbon from Browse, Woodside has shifted towards a floating capture system. The carbon content in Browse is significant, with around 12% being CO2, but the company estimates that capturing and burying most of it could cut 53 million tonnes of emissions.

However, carbon capture hasn’t proven seamless in Australia, with mixed success stories from other projects. For example, Chevron’s Gorgon gas project has struggled, capturing only about a third of its promised emissions reductions by last year. Conversely, Santos’ Moomba plant is reported to be doing better.

Experts have differing views on the prospects of carbon capture for Browse. Greg Bourne, a former oil executive now with the Climate Council, expresses skepticism about the viability of offshore capture, citing difficulties experienced on land. On the flip side, Alex Zapantis from the Global CCS Institute believes that drawing comparisons between different gas projects misses the point. He argues that geological characteristics can vary widely, and the technology does exist to make offshore storage feasible.

The Albanese government is pushing to approve more gas projects and has introduced a "Future Gas Strategy," which anticipates a continuous role for gas beyond 2050. Laxale feels that while gas is necessary for now, its significance may not be permanent, saying, “We need gas, until we don’t.”

In light of recent environmental challenges, like floods and droughts, decisions like the approval of the North West Shelf project have sparked backlash from climate activists. Many are questioning whether such choices align with the urgent need for environmental reforms, making this a pivotal time for Australia’s energy policy.

For further information on Australia’s environmental policies, you can visit the Australian Government’s official environment department.

Source link

EPBC, climate, environment, North West Shelf, Browse, gas, carbon capture, woodside, carbon capture and storage