Gas has been in the news a lot this week. In a nasty way. The new Environment Minister Murray Watt gave provisional approval for Woodside’s North West Shelf project to continue to 2070, and at the same time the Australian Energy Producers Conference and Exhibition was held in Brisbane.
Australian Energy Producers is the peak oil and gas industry body and lobby group. Gas CEOs had quite a time bagging out their opponents. Kevin Gallagher of Santos compared the Victorian government to North Korea, and Woodside’s Meg O’Neill accused young people of being “ideological” in their opposition to gas. Have you wondered why all the aggression?
We reckon it’s because they can see that their time is running out and they need to bully and spin their way to new gas mine approvals while they can. The future is coming for them: more extreme climate events, more global competition, young people and the movements for climate action and to electrify everything.
The word is out: gas is a fossil fuel that is cooking the planet and damaging land, water air and First Nations cultural heritage. It is very bad for the climate especially in the first 20 years. It is harmful to health, particularly the health of children. We will need a small amount for gas firming plants for our domestic needs in the transition to renewables but we already have more than enough gas approved for that.
So this is the week to come together for a genuine transition from fossil fuels – starting with the extension of the North West Shelf gas plant and all new gas.