· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Australia’s Environment Minister has granted “proposed” approval for Woodside Energy’s Karratha Gas Plant extension, allowing operations until 2070, pending a final decision within 10 days
• The project is under fire for threatening Murujuga’s ancient rock art — home to millions of engravings, including the world’s earliest human face depictions — due to industrial emissions
• The decision has provoked legal threats from Indigenous custodians and strong opposition from environmental groups and Pacific nations
🔭 The context: Murujuga, also known as the Burrup Peninsula, is one of the world’s most significant archaeological sites, dating back tens of thousands of years
• The Karratha Gas Plant, operational since the 1980s, is part of the North West Shelf project, a cornerstone of Australia’s gas export economy
• Scientific findings have linked emissions from the plant to acid rain eroding the rock art, yet the Western Australian government continues to support the extension amid international scrutiny
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The extension could unlock further fossil fuel development, notably the Browse gas field under Scott Reef, potentially generating billions of tons of CO₂
• This clashes with global climate goals and endangers vulnerable ecosystems and cultural heritage
• The decision also jeopardizes Australia’s credibility as a co-bidder for COP31, as Pacific Island nations warn that continued fossil fuel expansion threatens their survival
⏭️ What's next: Woodside must respond within 10 days before a final ruling by Minister Watt. Meanwhile, the Browse project remains under public consultation after a revised proposal
• Legal action by Indigenous custodians and intensified campaigning from climate groups are likely
• The federal government also faces mounting pressure to align its actions with international climate commitments ahead of the 2026 COP talks
💬 One quote: “What will be approved here is the biggest carbon bomb in the southern hemisphere,” — Prof. Benjamin Smith, International Scientific Committee for Rock Art
📈 One stat: The planned 900-km pipeline from Scott Reef would supply gas to the Karratha plant, potentially locking in fossil fuel infrastructure for decades
See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of Woodside Energy and its peers Santos, and Shell
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