Sydney (Australia).- Australia's largest gas
project, North West Shelf, received final approval this Friday to extend its activities until the year 2070, a decision that has generated controversy inside and outside the country due to the potential environmental and cultural repercussions.
This extension allows Woodside, the company in charge, to continue extracting and processing natural gas for almost half a century more, which has generated environmental concerns, given the risk of greenhouse gas emissions and the impact on Aboriginal heritage sites in northern Western Australia.
Australian Environment Minister Murray Watt today imposed 48 additional conditions on the project, including the reduction of certain gas emissions by 2030 and a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with the aim of protecting the indigenous rock art in the area.
Among these measures is a partial declaration to preserve a significant heritage site next to the Karratha gas plant, home to the ancient Murujuga paintings, included in July on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
These paintings constitute one of the most extensive and ancient sets of rock art in the world, with thousands of engravings possibly dating back more than 40,000 years.
The images represent human figures, animals, and abstract symbols that reflect the worldview, daily life, and traditions of the local indigenous peoples.
Today's approval comes just a day after Vanuatu's Climate Minister, Ralph Regenvanu, warned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the project could contravene Australia's international commitments on climate change.
"The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice has made it clear that expanding the production of fossil fuels constitutes an internationally wrongful act under international law. Therefore, it is something that Australia should consider," said Regenvanu, within the framework of the Pacific Islands Forum, where Albanese was participating.
The Prime Minister, however, has defended the project's expansion, arguing that it guarantees energy security during the transition to renewable energies.
Your Administration is expected to announce its emissions reduction target for 2035 in the coming days, in a context of growing international pressure on Australia to balance energy development and climate commitments.
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