Climate Change

Woodside Petroleum: doubling down for a dirty decade

Woodside and BHP have responded to the energy transition by heading in opposite directions. Here are 13 takeaways about Woodside's future. They will need some luck.

Climate Change

Unless we act now, a hotter, drier, more dangerous future for Australia awaits: IPCC

The latest science is clear: "Every fraction of a degree of global warming increases the likelihood and severity of many extremes...every effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions matters."

Carbon Emissions

BHP climate target skips massive Australian oil & gas emissions

BHP's climate target excludes the Bass Strait, North West Shelf and future Scarborough LNG on the incorrect basis that the operator controls the emissions, not the joint owners.

Climate Change

Net-zero emissions by 2050 needs immediate halt to new oil, gas and coal projects: IEA

New fossil fuel projects must end today for the world to navigate a "viable but narrow pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050," according to the International Energy Agency.

Energy Transition

The budget is a flight of fancy ignoring Australia’s low-emissions future

In this week's budget the Morrison Government ignored clean energy and instead took a long-odds bet that carbon capture and storage will allow fossil fuels to carry on untouched by climate concerns.

Climate Change

The 1.5℃ global warming limit is not impossible – but needs political action now

There are rapidly escalating risks in global warming between 1.5℃ and 2℃ and the focus now must be on governments’ 2030 targets for emissions reduction.

net-zero 2050

Climate crisis: hope of staying within 1.5°C vital to spurring global action

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.

Climate Change

Seriously ugly: Australia if the world heats by 3°C this century

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.

Climate Change

Why net-zero emissions pledges should be met with scepticism

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.

LNG

Conservation Council moves to quash Woodside's growth plans

The Conservation Council has launched legal action against Woodside and the WA Government that may reopen environmental approvals essential to the Scarborough and Browse LNG projects.

Chevron

Chevron slashes global spend and ignores energy transition

Chevron slashes more than $US20 billion off its five-year spend due to lower demand and prices for fossil fuels but allocates just 2% of its 2022 budget to the energy transition.

Climate Change

A global carbon price could soon be a reality: Australia should prepare

A carbon price and dividend could help households and shield Australian exporters from coming EU and US carbon border taxes: UNSW economics professor.

Climate Change

Prepare for hotter days, says the State of the Climate 2020 report

The South West of WA has a hotter, drier future with more bushfires thanks to rising CO2 levels, according to the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology.

Analysis

Is Woodside a high-risk low-return bet on Scarborough LNG?

With only one growth option Woodside is selling Scarborough LNG hard, but is it a sensible investment in a world moving to tougher action on climate?

Carbon Emissions

Zali Steggall's climate change bill comes as business steps up

Independent MP Zali Steggall's climate change bill aims to take the short term politics out of climate change at the national level and replace it with science, economics and certainty.

Carbon Emissions

US under Biden will rejoin the Paris climate agreement and Australia will feel the heat

When a Biden-led USA rejoins the Paris Agreement and takes strong climate action Scott Morrison will have few international allies for his stubborn idleness.

LNG

A greener world is a dark outlook for Aussie LNG: IEA

Prospects for LNG are under a shadow if Paris Agreement emissions cuts are pursued, according to the IEA, leaving Woodside and Santos in a very dark place.

Climate Change

What China's climate push means for Australia

China's surprise commitment to net-zero emissions by 2060 presents problems and opportunities for Australian exports and increased pressure to get real about emissions reduction.

Federal Government

'Backwards' federal budget: Morrison govt never fails to disappoint on climate

A budget for a gas-led recovery is delaying inevitable and necessary change. Eventually, Australia will be forced to catch up to the EU, China and a post-Trump USA.

Federal Government

Taylor’s roadmap flawed: renewables doable almost everywhere

Angus Taylor's 'anything but wind and solar' path to low emissions focusses on long term solutions to problems that can be tackled now with existing technology.

Carbon Emissions

Methane explained: short-lived but long-term damage

The gas industry argues burning methane is less damaging to the climate than coal, but are we underestimating the affect of methane leaks?

Climate Change

Emissions "business as usual" will hit South-West farming hard

Droughts could be twice as long and severe in the greenest parts of South West WA from 2050 onwards if greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled, and some WA farms may become unviable.

LNG

Woodside’s LNG projects a risky bet: Paris Agreement chief

Woodside risks LNG demand squeezed by cheaper renewables not lasting long enough for decent payback from its Scarborough and Browse projects.