Call to Action: Help Stop Australia's Biggest Carbon Bomb

Environment Ministers have a habit of announcing bad news on Fridays before long weekends. Their aim is to miss the Saturday news cycle so less people see the announcement. I remember well from my time as a senior public servant. It happens whether they're Labor or Liberal.

And with the Christmas holidays on the near horizon, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has a big one coming up. Western Australia's government recently approved Woodside Energy's massive North West Shelf gas project until 2070. Now the ball is in Minister Plibersek's court. She has to make the final decision. If she green-lights this project, she will endorse Australia's dirtiest fossil fuel project ever.

The North West Shelf project will emit approximately 4.4 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent over its extended lifespan. That's more than 13 times Australia’s annual emissions! This massive emissions release contrasts starkly with what's needed to save our planet and society from dangerous climate change. The project is so big it will undermine global climate action. It will be one of the world's most polluting new projects.

The Burrup Peninsula, also known as Murujuga, is also home to one of the world's most extensive collections of ancient rock art. Some engravings date back 50,000 years. This invaluable cultural heritage is at risk. Acidic gas emissions from industrial activities deteriorates petroglyphs like these.

Earlier this year, I joined over 700 other individuals and environmental organisations in writing to WA's government to appeal its decision to approve the project. These protests were ignored.

One last chance to stop this Massive Carbon Bomb

The buck stops with Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. She has the power to do what's right. She can stop the project rather than toeing her Party line. But sadly, Tanya Plibersek's track record isn't good. She has already approved seven coal mines with nearly one billion tonnes of emissions since coming to power. Along with the Prime Minister, she also recently caved in to the WA Labor Party and tanked plans to establish a National Environment Protection Agency. But we can't give up if we want a safe future for our kids and country.

So what can you do?

Email Minister Plibersek: Draw on content above and/or that provided by the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Conservation Council of WA to write an email in your own words expressing your concerns about the North West Shelf gas project extension. Tell the Minister she must put our kids and our country before Woodside Energy and its obscene profits. Email: Tanya.Plibersek.mp@aph.gov.au

Call the Minister's Office: Engage directly by contacting Minister Plibersek's office to politely voice your opposition to the project's extension. Phone: (02) 9379 0700.

Share this email: Encourage your friends and family to take action too.

Fossil fuels have had their day. Tell Minister Plibersek to do what's right and reject Australia's latest and largest-ever carbon bomb.

I'd like to thank one of my subscribers Lucy who suggested I write this blog. If you have a suggestion, please reach out too and share it with me.