The federal government has given the last green light to the Woodside North West Shelf Gas Project in West -Australia, subject to a series of conditions.
Watt has placed 48 conditions on the approval – in addition to those already set by the WA government – that he said they were designed to reduce significant effects for old Aboriginal Rock Art in Murujuga in the Pilbara region.
Local indigenous groups have argued that expansion of the site could damage the Murujuga rota drawings – one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of rock engravings, which were Given UNESCO World Heritage List In July.
Murujuga is the home of more than a million of the rock drawings, some of which are estimated at 50,000 years old.
Proponents of the environment and some leaders of the Pacific Ocean have also criticized the expansion and warn that it could lock more than four billion tonnes of climate pollution.
Watt insisted that the conditions mean that the project could work in a way that did not cause “unacceptable” consequences for Murujuga -Rockkunst.
These include conditions that require limits for the emission of concern, and a reduction in certain gas emissions under their current levels – in some cases by 60 percent by 2030 – with continuous limitations thereafter.
Other conditions include the implementation of a robust emission assessment system, drawing up a cultural heritage management plan and annually reducing the emissions of the project to reach net gas emissions by 2050.
On Thursday, Marathoonera Woman and Murujuga said traditional custodian Raelene Cooper that the government would run the risk of fighting international legal steps if it would approve the project because it would threaten the heritage status of rock art.
Cooper said it would also weaken Australia’s status at his Pacific Buren, at a time when Prime Minister Anthony Albanian tries to stimulate the influence of Australia in the region.
“We all ask the same question in Australia and the Pacific Ocean – what does this government do?” Said Cooper.
Earlier this week, Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change told Ralph Regenvanu to reporters on the Pacific Islands Forum in the capital Honiara of Solomon Islands that approval of the expansion “internationally unlawful” and legally controversial would be controversial.
When asked by SBS News about how the likely approval of the project would be received in the Pacific Ocean, be rainvanu on one International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judgment by Vanuatu – Which countries have legally binding obligations to prevent and combat climate change – and can be held liable for loss and damage.
“The ICJ’s advice made it clear that the purchase of the production of fossil fuels is an international unlawful act under international law,” said Rainvanu.
– Additional reporting by Naveen Razik and the Australian Associated Press.
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