An expert, independent of government and industry, explains how prolonged industrial activity on the Burrup Peninsula in WA endangers an Australian marvel.
For Woodside, it is Scarborough or bust. Incredibly the LNG specialist has no plan B ready if its last chance to develop an LNG project evaporates. And Scarborough is no sure thing.
Cheaper solar power making green hydrogen production competitive in many countries by 2030 in a boon for use in Australia but a hurdle for dreams of a huge export market.
WA's industrial greenhouse gas emissions are dominated by four products and a handful of companies, including a few that have managed to keep a low profile in the climate wars.
Global warming can be limited to 1.5°C with commitments now to significant emissions reductions this decade, and in a circular logic, those commitments need faith that climate change can be tamed.
Emissions are on track to near 3℃ warming by 2100 that would give future Australians a seriously degraded life, according to the Australian Academy of Science, but strong action this decade can produce a better future.
The world does not have room to plant enough trees to provide "right to pollute" offsets for companies claiming net-zero by 2050 and more actual reductions in emissions are required.
Most big WA carbon polluters including Chevron, Adbri, South32 and Woodside are wanting on emissions reduction targets, strategy and cash, according to benchmarking for the world's biggest investors.
Ichthys LNG is giving Inpex and Australia a huge carbon pollution problem that is likely to grow as the Japanese company looks to troublesome carbon capture and storage to limit the environmental and financial damage.
Singapore's Pavilion Energy will buy Australian LNG from Chevron with certified greenhouse emissions, in another sign that Asian buyers are favouring less carbon-intensive gas.
Woodside wants to sanction its $US11.4 billion Scarborough LNG project in 2021, but a legal challenge to regulatory approval for years of carbon emissions could put it in a two-year legal limbo.
President Biden's carbon tariff plan is aimed at China but Australian exporters will be collateral damage unless the Federal Government adopts real measures to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
