Summary and Actions

Summary:

• Increasing pushback against Labor approval of North West Shelf Gas extension articulating it as a betrayal (Carmen Lawrence) or climate self-sabotage (Greg Bourne), an “historic mistake and a denial of climate science” (Climate Analytics)
• DEA test case proceeds on Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Project
• Bill Hare on Australia hosting COP31 in 2026

Timeline

24 June 2025 – Gas hot water systems to be phased out of Victorian homes under new energy reforms https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-24/victoria-gas-reforms-announcement/105451354

23 June 2025 – Environment Victoria explainer: What Victoria’s new gas regulations mean for you https://environmentvictoria.org.au/2025/06/23/gas-regs-explained/

22 June 2025 – Federal Labor ministers at odds over contentious NT gas pipeline decision, internal document shows. Agriculture minister Julie Collins and Indigenous affairs minister Malarndirri McCarthy expressed concern over Sturt Plateau pipeline’s construction between the Beetaloo Basin and Darwin. It highlights the failure of the Federal Environment Minister to call in Beetaloo Fracking projects with the Water Trigger. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/22/federal-labor-ministers-at-odds-over-contentious-nt-gas-pipeline-decision-internal-document-shows-ntwnfb

21 June 2025 – UK: Current heatwave ‘likely to kill almost 600 people in England and Wales’. Surge in deaths would not be occurring without human-caused global heating, scientists say. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/21/heatwave-expected-deaths-england-and-wales-analysis See World Weather Attribution (20 June) Climate change turns warm summer days in England into health threat, The Guardian Deadly weekend heat in England ‘100 times more likely’ due to climate crisis. Meanwhile, in the US: Millions of people across central and eastern US under ‘heat dome’ warning

21 June 2025 – Substantial shift in phase and amplitude of Indian rainfall beyond 2100. “In this study, we leverage a 10-member ensemble with an Earth system model under relatively strong emissions to examine rainfall changes over India to 2500. Our results show a pronounced weakening of large-scale monsoon circulation after 2100, mainly due to increased atmospheric stability caused by rapid warming in the upper troposphere over land. At the same time, the Indian monsoon system expands significantly to the north and west. ” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-025-01126-5
This has food security and migration implications for regional climate security. Is ONI working on an update of their 2022 Climate Security report?

20 June 2025 – A majority of people around the world support a carbon tax — even if they’re paying it. Even in the U.S., where the policy was least popular, half of those surveyed said they’d support a climate tax that redistributes wealth. Australia too suports a carbon tax. https://grist.org/climate/a-majority-of-people-around-the-world-support-a-carbon-tax-even-if-theyre-paying-it/
See Nature, 05 June 2025, Majority support for global redistributive and climate policies https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-025-02175-9

20 June 2025 – In Bonn at the UNFCCC SB62 climate talks the UNFCCC Secretariat is trying to censor civil society within the UN Bluezone for climate justice solidarity to End the Seige of Gaza and Stop The Genocide https://climatenetwork.org/resource/eco-5-sb62/

19 June 2025 – Labor’s new environment laws won’t be ‘credible’ unless new projects consider climate change, advocates warn https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/19/labors-new-environment-laws-wont-be-credible-unless-new-projects-consider-climate-change-advocates-warn

19 June 2025 – Climate Action Tracker: Mid-year check on 2035 climate plans. Report on Australia still to come. https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/mid-year-check-on-2035-climate-plans/

19 June 2025 – Planet’s reflective cloud coverage is shrinking – and amplifying the climate crisis, research finds. Study from NASA and Australian universities shows cloud coverage at the poles has shrunk over past 24 years, but mystery of 2023 global temperature spike remains https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/19/planets-reflective-cloud-coverage-is-shrinking-and-amplifying-the-climate-crisis-research-finds

19 June 2025 – One big chart – Revealed: the astonishing greenhouse gas emissions that will result from the North West Shelf project https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/jun/19/north-west-shelf-project-greenhouse-gas-emissions-burrup-peninsula-western-australia

19 June 2025 – Victoria’s Future Climate Tool provides access to interactive climate projections and climate-related hazard indicators to help inform your decision making. https://vicfutureclimatetool.indraweb.io/cmip6/

19 June 2025 – Only two years left of world’s carbon budget to meet 1.5C target, scientists warn. Breaching threshold would ramp up catastrophic weather events, further increasing human suffering https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/18/only-two-years-left-of-world-carbon-budget-to-meet-15c-target-scientists-warn-climate-crisis

18 June 2025 – Researchers Find Climate Change Threatens Global Food Supply. Researchers found that every 1-degree Celsius increase in global mean surface temperature could reduce the world’s ability to produce food by 120 calories a person per day, which is about 4.4% of what people eat daily. “Through hotter temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns, climate change reduces crop yields,” said Robert Kopp, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences in the School of Arts and Sciences and an author of the study. “Farmers adapt, for instance, by changing the varietals of crops they plant, but on its own that may not be enough to avoid the damages wrought by a warming climate.” https://www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-find-climate-change-threatens-global-food-supply Read the full study: Hultgren, A., Carleton, T., Delgado, M. et al. Impacts of climate change on global agriculture accounting for adaptation. Nature 642, 644–652 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09085-w

18 June 2025 – Murray Watt ‘personally lobbied’ Unesco over barring of WA rock art from world heritage list https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/17/murray-watt-personally-lobbied-unesco-over-barring-of-wa-rock-art-from-world-heritage-list

18 June 2025 – The role of aerosol declines in recent warming by climate scientist Zeke Hausfather https://skepticalscience.com/aerosol-role-recent-warming.html

17 June 2025 – The World’s Banks are Still Betting on Fossil Fuel Industry Growth. The biggest funders of fossil fuel expansion are U.S. banks that, like those in other countries, are retreating on their climate commitments. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17062025/banks-continue-to-back-fossil-fuel-industry/ Read the full report. Climate Action Merribek was one of 474 organisations to endorse this report. In the League tables ANZ ranked 52, NAB ranked 56, Westpac ranked 60, and Commonwealth Bank ranked 62.

17 June 2025 – Nasa data reveals dramatic rise in intensity of weather events. Extreme events such as floods and droughts are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more severe, study says. Data shows more intensification of both droughts and floods as well as abrupt shifts between extreme wet and dry conditions – called hydroclimatic whiplash events. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/17/nasa-data-reveals-dramatic-rise-in-intensity-of-weather-events

16 June 2025 – Climate and housing crises converging to threaten Australian families, New Report Warns. It reveals 5.6 million homes at bushfire risk, nearly 1 million at flood risk, and 23,000 people displaced annually as Australia’s housing system nears collapse. https://homelessnessaustralia.org.au/climate-and-housing-crises-converging-to-threaten-australian-families-new-report-warns/

15 June 2025 – Deadly algal bloom in South Australia’s Coorong an environmental ‘eye opener’, ecologist says. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/15/deadly-algal-bloom-in-south-australias-coorong-an-environmental-eye-opener-ecologist-says

13 June 2025 – Unions SA report argues for public ownership of Whyalla steelworks, to focus on green iron and steel production to set an example, not only for Australia, but globally. It requires a renewable hydrogen hub with electrolysers and an Arc Furnace to be installed. Steel production globally accounts for 2.8 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions each year, or 8 percent of total energy system emissions. https://reneweconomy.com.au/unions-push-for-public-ownership-of-whyalla-steel-to-keep-green-dream-alive/

13 June 2025 – Coalition MPs should embrace net zero policies or risk alienating voters, Liberal senator warns. Climate change is real and Coalition’s job is to determine how to cut emissions, shadow assistant minister to opposition leader Maria Kovacic says. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/13/coalition-mps-should-embrace-net-zero-policies-or-risk-alienating-voters-liberal-senator-warns
If the Coalition were serious, they should dump the climate denial, keep net zero target, and adopt an economy wide Carbon emissions cap and trade system (We know that works from 2 years experience), with limited offsets use, or a climate fee and dividend system, and let the free market sort out emissions reduction. They are the free market party.

12 June 2025 – Carbon Tracker Analysis report on Aviation: Awaiting take-off – Why aviation’s net zero plan still doesn’t fly. This report examines the current market for new propulsion aircraft in light of the role they will need to play in decarbonising the aviation sector. Close attention is paid to the activities of the dominant manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, and major European airlines such as IAG. The advantages and disadvantages of different technological options for cutting emissions, including “sustainable aviation fuels” (SAF), are assessed in turn. https://carbontracker.org/reports/awaiting-take-off/

12 June 2025 – As Australia campaigns for Cop31 hosting rights, it’s time to stop talking and start doing says Bill Hare from Climate Analytics. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/12/as-australia-campaigns-for-cop31-hosting-rights-its-time-to-stop-talking-and-start-doing

12 June 2025 – Cost of net zero by 2050 may determine whether Coalition abandons emissions goal, shadow minister says. Dan Tehan says Coalition’s position on the Paris agreement and gas reservation scheme are also up for debate https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/12/coalition-net-zero-by-2050-cost-emissions-target-paris-agreement-party-debate-internal-review-dan-tehan-climate-policy

12 June 2025 – Murray Watt flags Woodside’s North West Shelf project extension response could be delayed https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-12/woodside-north-west-shelf-gas-approval-response-delayed/105403522

11 June 2025 – Environment Minister Watt makes big move on ocean protection while getting a huge challenge over koalas https://region.com.au/watt-makes-big-move-on-ocean-protection-while-getting-a-huge-challenge-over-koalas/876180/

10 June 2025 – New report by the Climate Council: Battery Boom: Supercharging Australia’s Renewable Rollout https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/battery-boom-supercharging-australias-renewable-rollout/

10 June 2025 – David leitch asks, Can green iron replace Australia’s coal and gas exports? https://reneweconomy.com.au/can-green-iron-replace-australias-coal-and-gas-exports/

10 June 2025 – Woodside gas expansion plans – and approvals – face fresh legal challenges. This is Raelene Cooper’s injunction regarding consideration of North West Shelf Gas Plant damage to Murujuga cultural rockart landscape, and Doctors for the Environment testing NOPSEMA approval decision of Scarborogh Gas Basin drilling. https://reneweconomy.com.au/woodside-gas-expansion-plans-and-approvals-face-fresh-legal-challenges/

10 June 2025 – Australia’s government is pledging better protection for our vulnerable seas – but will it work? https://theconversation.com/australias-government-is-pledging-better-protection-for-our-vulnerable-seas-but-will-it-work-258286

10 June 2025 – Electric vehicle myths: almost half of Australians wrongly believe EVs are more likely to catch fire, survey shows. Findings highlight how misinformation about battery safety prevents drivers from investing in low-emission cars. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/10/electric-vehicle-myths-more-than-half-australians-wrongly-believe-evs-are-more-likely-to-catch-fire-survey-shows

9 June 2025 – ‘There are no rules on the high seas’: Australia to play a key role on ocean protections. Regarding UN Oceans Conference, High Seas Biodiversity Treaty. https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/there-are-no-rules-on-the-high-seas-australia-to-play-a-key-role-on-ocean-protections-20250605-p5m55j.html

9 June 2025 – Australian government to declare almost a third of its oceans ‘highly protected’ in the next five years. Murray Watt tells UN conference in France a review of Australia’s marine parks will ‘lay the foundation’ for increasing ocean protections. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/09/australian-government-to-declare-almost-a-third-of-its-oceans-highly-protected-in-the-next-five-years See also Greenpeace comment

8 June 2025 – Environment Minister Murray Watt media release: World Oceans Day: Australia leading the way at UN Ocean Conference. Australia will introduce enabling legislation for the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty in the Spring sitting of Parliament, with ratification of the Treaty soon after. Australia has expanded marine protected areas to more than 50 percent, but this is largely an on paper move with mining and fishing still allowed in many areas. Watt announced that 30 percent of marine protected area estate in highly protected areas by 2030 and a three-year review of our remaining 44 marine marks will lay the foundation for this. https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/watt/media-releases/world-oceans-day-australia-leading-way-un-ocean-conference

7 June 2025 – Former BP executive, now Climate Councillor, Greg Bourne explains The real reason for the North West Shelf project. “just weeks into its second term, that government has betrayed its election mandate by making its most polluting decision yet: approving the Woodside Energy-operated North West Shelf extension to 2070. In many people’s view this is a case of capitulation from a government that is beholden to fossil fuel corporations including Western Australia’s gas giants. To me, it’s climate self-sabotage.” https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topic/2025/06/07/the-real-reason-the-north-west-shelf-project

7 June 2025 – Mike Seccombe on ‘Done and dusted’: Inside Labor’s North West Shelf gas approval https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environment/2025/06/07/done-and-dusted-inside-labors-north-west-shelf-gas-approval

This Diagram below shows the relationship between North West Shelf LNG, Pluto LNG, Scarborough and Pluto A, North Rankin Complex and Browse Basin

6 June 2025 – Labor accused of ‘gaslighting’ Australians on climate crisis as fossil fuel projects keep getting approved. ‘They offer sympathy and then just go and approve massive fossil fuel projects anyway,’ one advocate says . Albanese said last week “It is net zero, not zero” and “You don’t change a transition with warm thoughts”. “I was really upset when I heard the prime minister say it’s net zero not actual zero,” says Serena Joyner, the chief executive of Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action. “It’s gaslighting, because you have to actually reduce emissions or climate change will just run away. It’s a cognitive disconnect.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/06/labor-accused-of-gaslighting-australians-on-climate-crisis-as-fossil-fuel-projects-keep-getting-approved

6 June 2025 – “Slap in the face:” Gas project approval collides with fresh warnings on sea level rise, ocean heat. A group representing former ministers of Pacific Island countries say the decision to extend the life of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas processing facility to 2070 is a “slap in the face” that contradicts Australia’s “platitudes” about “caring for the Pacific ‘family’”. https://reneweconomy.com.au/slap-in-the-face-gas-project-approval-collides-with-fresh-warnings-on-sea-level-rise-ocean-heat/

6 June 2025 – Boele says Labor risks squashing business confidence on energy transition without firmer climate change stance https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/06/nicolette-boele-calls-for-stronger-labor-policy-on-climate-change-energy-transition

6 June 2025 – Doctors for the Environment test case on Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Project to proceed after court grants crucial costs order https://www.dea.org.au/doctors_for_the_environment_test_case_on_woodside_s_scarborough_gas_project_to_proceed_after_court_grants_crucial_costs_order

6 June 2025 – Closer to home, two renewables projects in NE and Central Victoria have met vocal opposition. Victorian renewable energy project approvals spark anger in Dederang and Colbinabbin. Projects were fast-tracked and approved by the Victorian Planning Minister, so no recourse to VCAT. Dederang Battery (BESS) is located 1.7km from the Dederang terminal station (to be linked underground) and is needed for firming the grid. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-06/dederang-colbinabbin-renewable-energy-project-approvals/105385616

5 June 2025 – Climate Analytics briefing note: The full implications of Australia’s North West Shelf decision. Calls the approval decision “an historic mistake and a denial of climate science.” Sets set out the full implications of this decision, from the enormous emissions that will pollute the atmosphere for thousands of years, their impacts on the ground, the ability of the government to meet its Paris Agreement commitments (and indeed its net zero ambitions), and counter some of the claims being made by the government around Australia’s need for gas, and the need of trading partners. https://climateanalytics.org/publications/the-full-implications-of-australias-north-west-shelf-decision

Sub heading Detail in the briefing note:

• The Albanese government approval of Woodside North West shelf LNG plant to 2070 is an historic mistake and a denial of climate science
• NWS approval to 2070 allows Woodside to emit double its historical emissions – more of a stampede toward more fossil fuels than a transition away
• NWS approval to 2070 is a subversion of the Paris Agreement
• Approval goes in the opposite direction to Australia’s net zero pathway Hypocrisy: “And remember, Australia signed on, loudly and willingly, to the agreement in Dubai at COP28 as part of the Global Stocktake – to begin the transition away from fossil fuels. You don’t begin a transition away from something by doubling emissions from the first period of operation.
• Woodside Burrup Hub emissions could be 25% greater than the entire cumulative greenhouse gas emissions Australia would emit until 2050 getting to net zero.
• Woodside’s Burrup Hub (NWS+Pluto) will consume 6% of the remaining global carbon budget for 1.5oC and will impose 6GtCO2 (billion tonnes) of carbon dioxide removal obligations on future generations.
• NWS decisions undermine the Paris Agreement and chances of limiting warming to 1.5oC … “Whilst the Prime Minister talks about net emissions there is no way there would ever be sufficient negative emissions capacity to offset the scale of emissions supply implied here at around 7.5 billion tonnes of CO2 a year at a global level. This suggestion is absurd.”
• Woodside’s Burrup Hub will cause 16,000 km² loss of September Arctic sea ice
• NWS emissions could cost USD 176 billion in extreme heat-related damages globally and Burrup Hub USD 272 billion
• Climate warming of NWS will continue for thousands of years: 30-40% of NWS CO2 emissions will remain in atmosphere in 100 years,10-20% in 10,000 years
• Recent European court judgments indicate increased risk of successful legal action against Woodside for the consequences of its greenhouse emissions
• NWS gas is not required to support the phase-out of coal generation in Western Australia
• NWS is the largest single consumer of gas on the WA domestic gas market.
• Arguments that the NWS facility underpins Australian energy security are not correct
• Claims that more gas is needed for decarbonisation of power globally, and locally are false
• No scientific basis for claims more gas need to 2070 for stable power supplies – the IEA shows that by 2035 gas halves with 80% coal reduction, with renewables quadrupling
• Woodside’s claims of gas displacing coal in Asia do not stack up – gas adds to emissions and slows down the energy transition to renewables
• Australia’s LNG is being on-sold at profit, not delivering energy security in Japan
• Claims that the Safeguard Mechanism will lead to reduced emissions from NWS are not correct – offsets do not reduce emissions
• Offsets purchased by Woodside have major integrity problems and do not reflect real and additional emission reductions or carbon sequestration
• NWS approval signals approval for development of the Browse Basin and drilling of Scott reef and likely extension to fracking in the Kimberly region
• NWS extension spells ongoing damage to the world’s oldest and largest rock art (petroglyphs) at Murujuga
• World Heritage science body finds pollution from NWS plant a “major threat” to rock art at Murujuga and recommends against World Heritage listing until these emissions are stopped.

5 June 2025 – Marine heatwave found to have engulfed area of ocean five times the size of Australia. World Meteorological Organization report says record heat in 2024 was driven by climate crisis and intersected with extreme weather events https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/05/marine-heatwave-found-to-have-engulfed-area-of-ocean-five-times-the-size-of-australia

5 June 2025 – a Tidy summary of gas expansion projects being developed. Not mentioned is Kimberley gas Fracking. Woodside’s North West Shelf approval is by no means a one-off. Here are 6 other giant gas projects to watch https://theconversation.com/woodsides-north-west-shelf-approval-is-by-no-means-a-one-off-here-are-6-other-giant-gas-projects-to-watch-257899

1 June 2025 – Natural disasters cost Australia’s economy $2.2bn in first half of 2025, new Treasury analysis shows. Wild weather, including Cyclone Alfred and floods in NSW and Queensland, significantly slowed retail trade and household spending. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/01/natural-disasters-cost-australias-economy-22bn-in-first-half-of-2025-new-treasury-analysis-shows

1 June 2025 – North West Shelf gas extension will deliver ‘almost nothing’ to Australia’s public purse. Experts say hugely profitable east coast LNG producers pay little in resources rent tax and Woodside project won’t help country’s energy shift https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/01/north-west-shelf-gas-extension-australia-lng-woodside-project-little-rent-tax

1 June 2025 – Bowen open to carbon tariff, says Australia must ‘do more’ to hit 2030 climate target but remains on track. Mr Bowen said the newly approved North West Shelf expansion would not jeopardise emissions goals because the site was covered by the safeguard mechanism and legally required to ratchet down its own emissions toward net zero. (Please see Climate Analytics 5 June 2025 briefing note refuting that assertion.) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-01/bowen-open-to-carbon-tariff/105362978