Woodside’s Gas Expansion Wipes Out Climate Progress - 50 Times Over
- Gregory Andrews
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Woodside gas expansion isn’t just a huge policy mistake. It’s a devastating setback for every single Australian who’s:
Installed solar panels.
Bought an EV.
Changed their diet, flown less, or spoken up for climate action.
Campaigned for emissions reduction targets.
It’s also a direct contradiction of Australia’s net zero by 2050 commitment. You can’t open massive new fossil fuel projects and reduce emissions at the same time. The laws of physics don’t allow it - even if Anthony Albanese’s spin doctors tell him otherwise.
🔥 4.3 Billion Tonnes of CO₂
The Albanese government green light to Woodside for its massive North West Shelf project, locks in an extra 4.3 billion tonnes of carbon pollution. That’s enough to:
Cancel out all rooftop solar in Australia 50 times over, and
Erase the benefits of replacing every petrol and diesel car in Australia with an EV ten times over!
Let’s break it down:
An average Aussie rooftop solar system saves about 21 tonnes of CO₂ over 25 years.
Australia has about 3.7 million systems. That’s about 78 million tonnes avoided.
Woodside’s expansion is 4,300 million tonnes.
So that’s more than 55 times what all our solar panels will save.
Replacing a petrol car with an EV saves about 26 tonnes over its life. So you’d need 165 million EVs to offset Woodside’s gas bomb. But Australia has less than 20 million cars.
Woodside’s project makes a joke of government climate policies. But each of us still has agency:
Speak up.
Call out fossil fuel expansionism for what it is.
Support laws proposed by independent MPs and Greens to stop new coal and gas approvals.
This isn’t just about carbon. It’s about justice, truth, and the future of our kids and Country.
Woodside’s project will last until 2070. But the fight for a safe climate future starts now!
Thank you so much for this. There is so much wrong with this decision. It’s inconsistent with belief in the science.
This would not happen if the corporate law duty of directors to act in their company's best interests had a proviso that so acting may not result in severe damage to the environment. See:www.codeforcorporatecitizenship.com.
Greg, you are doing a terrific job in the face of mounting opposition and a large sector of voters which does not accept the causes of climate breakdown or the danger it represents. Enough also believed the propaganda machine during the election, ensuring Greens and Independents remain a sideshow.
There is NO difference between Labor or LNP when dealing with the coal and gas corporations, so we must keep writing and protesting.
Agree that political change is needed, but probably a long way off.
Hi Greg – good stuff – but what can we do to prevent this going ahead? March in the streets, descend and picket all Woodside facilities, national disobedience, march on government like we did with the Vietnamese war?
My wife and I are retired, with limited resources – but we can send emails, However I want to be sure of our facts, and who to send them send it to, to make sure it gets through and maximum effect (maybe you could help here).
I have already emailed the PM & Murray Watt – very disappointed with Labour on this – the Australian people made the better choice between Coalition and Labour, but the trust and mandate given to…
I don’t doubt your claim re solar panels, but is there a reference source?