Australia Extends North West Shelf Gas Project to 2070 with Emission Conditions

Australia's government has approved a 40-year extension for Woodside Energy's North West Shelf gas project to 2070, despite criticism from climate activists warning it contradicts global climate goals. Environment Minister Murray Watt imposed 48 strict conditions focused on limiting industrial air emissions, including nitrous oxide, to protect the adjacent Murujuga Indigenous rock art, a World Heritage site with over a million petroglyphs. The government emphasizes balancing economic benefits and heritage preservation, with Woodside promising to reduce emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Pacific leaders and climate advocates, including Vanuatu's climate minister, warn the extension risks breaching international legal obligations under a recent International Court of Justice ruling holding states accountable for greenhouse gas emissions. The decision comes amid calls from Pacific nations for Australia to dramatically cut emissions to protect their survival from climate impacts. The project is seen by critics as a major carbon emitter, potentially locking in billions of tonnes of emissions over decades, raising tensions in Australia's regional climate efforts.