Comments attributable to Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter:

“Labor won the last Federal election on a promise of delivering the urgent, decisive climate action Australians want and deserve. Minister King’s announcement today is not only a betrayal of that commitment, it is a step closer to a more unsafe future for us all. This is no better than a smoker saying they are giving up, but in reality just swapping one brand of cigarettes for another.

“Minister King’s so-called strategy might as well have been written by the fossil fuel lobby; it is full of measures to ease the way for new gas, and conveniently light on measures to protect the threatened species that will be harmed in the process. It reads like a blank cheque for the industry to drill as they please, no matter the cost to our communities, and our climate.

“At a time when the science is crystal clear that any new fossil fuels are incompatible with a safe future, and global leaders—including Australia—have agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, this government is flogging fossil fuel furphies like “green gas” instead of proven and affordable renewable energy solutions. 

“Minister King’s reckless strategy is completely at odds with the Labor government’s progress towards its own Net Zero Emissions targets. It will deliver profits for gas exporters in the short term while saddling Australians with worsening extreme weather, more costly energy, redundant gas infrastructure and a less competitive economy. 

“This government must act in the best interest of the Australian people. For starters, we know that Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will soon decide whether to let Woodside develop the most polluting parts of the Burrup Hub—Browse and the Northwest Shelf extension. We call on Minister Plibersek not to approve these proposals.

“The light on the hill cannot be powered by gas. Minister King is wrong on the science, doing wrong to the people of Australia, and is undermining the Labor government’s standing, at home and abroad. 

“The Australian people are watching closely, as are our Pacific family. We urge  Ministers Plibersek, Bowen and King to ensure that this government’s legacy is not broken promises; but rather, a safe and thriving future for us all.”

Comments attributable to Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific:

“For our people in the Pacific, today’s news is a dagger in the back. At the COP28 summit, Minister Bowen referred to the Pacific as ‘our brothers and sisters’. But to truly be a family, you need to stop making the same mistakes again and again. What the Pacific needs right now is a stop to all expansion of fossil fuels – that means gas as well.”

“While Minister King courts Japanese investment, Minister Bowen will need to meet Pacific Island communities face-to-face at future COP meetings: will he stand by and allow this to happen? This Government knows that Australia’s fraught relationship with the Pacific relies on real climate action, not rhetoric.

“If the Australian government is serious about supporting its Pacific vuvale, it must uphold its commitment made at COP28 in Dubai to transition away from all fossil fuels. You can’t transition away by opening new fossil projects. It makes no sense.”

You’ll find a copy of Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s own submission to the Future Gas Strategy (November 2023) here.

—ENDS—

For more information or to arrange an interview:

• With David Ritter, please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 (Sydney)

• General enquiries: Lisa Wills on 0456 206 021 (Melbourne)

Woodside, Australia’s polluter-in-chief, had a terrible day at its annual general meeting.

Shareholders and concerned Australians voted down Woodside’s ‘climate’ plan simply because it wasn’t going far enough to tackle the climate crisis.

This is a massive blow to Woodside’s credibility – banks, super funds, institutional investors and thousands of shareholders have said its ‘climate’ plan isn’t worth the paper it is printed on.

Communities here in Australia and the Pacific deserve a safe climate future.

Woodside’s Burrup Hub is the most polluting fossil fuel project currently proposed in Australia today. Approving new fossil fuel projects will endanger countless lives and recklessly lock Australia into more fossil fuels as the rest of the world shifts to cleaner, cheaper renewable energy.

We’ve spent the past 2 years fighting to stop Woodside from going ahead with its disastrous plans in WA. And now the finish line is in sight. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has Woodside’s plans on her desk right now and we know she cares deeply for the environment and our oceans. Let’s make sure Plibersek receives an avalanche of emails opposing Woodside’s Burrup Hub.

You can use our simple tool to email Plibersek in just a few clicks.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific is currently taking Woodside to the Federal Court for making previous statements that we believe were misleading or deceptive about its plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. 

This comes as experts this week warned that the Great Barrier Reef may be suffering its ‘most severe’ bleaching on record with damage extending up to 18 metres below the surface, and coral mortality beginning to unfold.

2023 saw the hottest ocean temperatures ever recorded — “astounding” levels of heat which supercharged freak weather events around the world. Bleaching-level heat stress, fuelled by the climate crisis, continues to be extensive across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. 

David Ritter, CEO at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said that following on from what was the hottest year on record, news of a worldwide coral bleaching is another red alert for Earth, and all the life it sustains.

“Mere days after researchers confirmed the most severe coral bleaching on record for the Great Barrier Reef, international agencies have announced that the world is experiencing its fourth global coral bleaching event. 

“The blame for the existential danger facing our reefs lays squarely with the main culprits fuelling global warming: fossil fuel companies, and the governments who prop up this industry.

“The science is crystal clear that climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is warming our oceans and leading to increasingly severe and frequent coral bleaching events worldwide. Corals die when bleaching events are too prolonged or severe.

“Every government decision to allow more coal, oil, and gas to be extracted and burned is a deadly blow to the future of the Great Barrier Reef, and reefs worldwide. The loss of reefs would have devastating ecological and economic consequences for billions of people worldwide — including our Pacific neighbours whose very culture and identities are intrinsically entwined with the ocean.

“We are running out of runway to avoid irreversible climate disaster, and must act quickly to ensure an immediate end to new fossil fuels. Governments and decision makers simply cannot allow new fossil fuel projects to go ahead if we want to address climate change and give the Great Barrier Reef and all reefs a fighting chance at survival.”

—ENDS—

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or kate.ocallaghan@greenpeace.org

Comments attributable to a Greenpeace Australia Pacific spokesperson:

“We are deeply concerned that Resources Minister Madeleine King is using sneaky means to fast-track approvals for new gas projects while undermining environmental protections under the EPBC Act, laying the groundwork for more new gas during a climate crisis.

“The Bill effectively provides the offshore petroleum industry a future carve out from the protections afforded by the EPBC Act. On the day Australia is revealed as having the highest rates of mammal extinction in the world, the last thing we should be doing is weakening nature protections for the gas industry. The amendments tabled today provide Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, some veto power over future changes introduced by Minister King – specifically in ensuring that changes are consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development – but still leave Australia’s natural environment at significant risk. 

“While in need of major reform, even the current EPBC Act provides much greater protections and those protections are at risk of being lost during this blatant power-grab by Minister King.

“We are concerned that these amendments, buried in a Bill largely about worker safety, will be rushed through the Parliament this week without the relevant scrutiny. 

“The Government gave assurances that there would be extensive consultations – yet consultation has been minimal in Minister King’s rush to push the Bill through. Minister King has also labelled claims she was taking over environmental approvals a “conspiracy theory”. None of this builds confidence that Minister King is prioritising Australia’s precious natural environment above the want of the gas industry.

Woodside’s Burrup Hub is set to define Labor’s legacy on environmental protection

“The gas industry has been pushing the Labor government to weaken Australia’s environmental protections because it has a suite of new projects in the pipeline that pose a major threat to our oceans and climate. The biggest and most dangerous of these is Woodside’s Burrup Hub, which would require drilling up to 50 wells around Scott Reef, Australia’s largest oceanic reef system and a vital habitat for pygmy blue whales and green turtles.

“Minister Plibersek is expected to decide whether to give Woodside the green light to drill at Scott Reef this year. It’s a key test of Labor’s environmental legacy.” 

Images of the stunning, pristine Scott Reef are available for hi-res download here. Additional photos and materials can be made available on request.

—ENDS—

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Lisa Wills on 0456 206 021 or lwills@greenpeace.org

We probably don’t need to remind you why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Having been a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Listings since 1981, and with biodiversity as far as the eye can see (and beyond!), it’s home to 1625 types of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and 600 types of coral, amongst many other species of marine wildlife. 

Aerial photograph of the Great Barrier Reef.

Sadly, we also probably don’t need to remind you that over the past 20 years, the world’s largest coral reef system has continued to make headlines for a series of mass coral bleaching events (6 to be precise) across 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022 – driven by the devastating impacts of climate change. 

That’s why UNESCO’s draft decision to not declare the Great Barrier Reef as  “in danger” ahead of the World Heritage Committee’s final vote in September has come as a disappointing blow to marine scientists and environmental organisations (including yours truly) – especially since we know the recent results from an official UN visit back in 2022 concluded Australia is not doing enough to protect the reef from climate change and more mass bleaching events in the near future. 

Greenpeace “Protect the Reef” campaign action in North Queensland.

Our planet continues to urge us to take immediate action against all the climate change driven disasters seen around the world this year. These, amongst many others are signs that our planet is exhibiting some serious red flags that need addressing.

What are some of these environmental red flags?

Our planet continues to warn us that we cannot continue on our current trajectory. And this year has proven to be no different. From the hottest month on record to what’s looking like the hottest year, here are some of the top environmental red flags of 2023 to remind us why the Great Barrier Reef (as well as many other species and natural environments) should be treated as “in danger”: 

The hottest month on record

Earlier this year, the World Meteorological Organisation confirmed that July was officially the hottest month on record at a global scale. Global temperatures during the month averaged 16.95C, surpassing the previous record by 0.33C set back in 2019. The devastating effects of extreme heatwaves was widely reported in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for Australia and what we could expect over the coming months as we move towards our summer season.

The hottest year on record

That brings us to the world’s official hottest year on record. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have shown more than a 50% chance that 2023 will be the warmest year on record. This of course follows the unprecedented heatwaves across Europe, a rapidly strengthening El Niño weather event, and alarmingly high temperatures across Asia and parts of the Pacific, as well as a number of heartbreaking wildfires reported across Greece and Maui.

Ocean temperatures

Unsurprisingly but equally as concerning, average oceanic temperatures have also been at an all time high (as reported by the Copernicus Climate Change Service), with scientists reporting that the world’s oceans have been running a fever since March this year. But that’s not the only indication of the serious impacts climate change is having on our oceans, with scientists now reporting the colour of our oceans is also even changing more from blue to green. 

New fossil fuel developments
A recent report by the Australia Institute has outlined the frighteningly high number of new fossil fuel developments this year – 116 to be exact. And if all these projects were to go ahead as planned, that would add roughly 4.8 billion tonnes of emissions into the atmosphere by 2030. 

One new fossil fuel development of course being Woodside’s dangerous plans for the Burrup Hub. The most polluting fossil fuel project currently proposed in Australia, that if completed, would produce climate-wrecking gas until 2070. The project threatens endangered whale and turtle nesting habitat through dangerous dredging and seismic blasting, and another nearby UNESCO protected area – Ningaloo Reef. 

Corals and marine wildlife in Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.

“Projects like the massive Woodside proposal, which would be the largest green house gas emitting project to come forward in Australia, simply cannot go ahead if we are going to be consistent with what is necessary to keep global warming under 1.5°C and give the Great Barrier Reef a fighting chance” as stated by Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO.

The bottom line: We know that the fossil fuel industry is a major contributor to the climate crisis our planet is currently facing. We know that pollution and climate change (driven by the burning of fossil fuels) has been identified as the number one threat to the Great Barrier Reef. We also know that we cannot afford to further invest in the development of new fossil fuel projects.

What we truly need now more than ever, is strong climate targets that align with the efforts to limit global temperature to increase to 1.5°C – that protect our planet and biodiversity treasures like the Great Barrier Reef.

It is also a question that deserves a clear answer, so here it goes: people in WA and around the world are increasingly focussed on Woodside because of the huge threat it poses to WA’s oceans and wildlife, and to our global climate. 

There is mounting disgust at the impunity with which Woodside is being allowed to proceed with its destructive plans. As Tim Winton has said “we can’t keep averting our gaze and pretending that this isn’t happening”. 

Just last week, Woodside got the green light from the regulator to start seismic blasting off WA’s north-west coast. Right now, Woodside’s blasting ship is headed toward WA’s coastline. Soon, there will be underwater sonic cannons exploding in the habitat of endangered whales. 

As the shocking recent footage of beaching pilot whales at Cheynes Beach showed, cetaceans are deeply sensitive to changes in their environment. Seismic blasting is incredibly loud and can damage the hearing of whales, leaving the creatures unable to navigate, communicate or forage for food. A deaf whale is a dead whale.

And it is not only the whales. Some of the most incredible and pristine places in our oceans – jewels like Scott Reef, Rowley Shoals, Mermaid Sound and even the world-famous Ningaloo Reef – are all at risk. 

Woodside wants to run pipelines and drill for gas on the fringes of some of Australia’s most intact coral reefs. Whether or not you’re an environmentalist, no one can deny the value of the billions of dollars these fishing, diving, and tourism hotspots bring to the WA economy every year. All that could be lost because of Woodside’s corporate greed.

Then there’s the straight out climate impacts. We’ve already seen our state and country burn, flood, and crack under unprecedented weather extremes, supercharged by climate change that is driven by the burning of coal, oil, and gas. It’s the same confronting story the world over. 

Not only is Woodside perpetuating harm, it’s also stopping progress on solutions. 

For instance, modelling commissioned by Woodside from the CSIRO demonstrated that Woodside’s gas exports risked crowding out the growth of renewable energy in Asia – this was a report Woodside tried to suppress, but journalists uncovered through freedom of information requests. 

Woodside has also made claims about the local business benefits for its gas, which are baseless. Most of the gas from Scarborough and Browse will be exported so it won’t have a significant impact on the Australian grid. 

And by attempting to lock in decades of future gas extraction, Woodside is crowding out clean energy, making it difficult for governments and businesses to invest in renewable infrastructure and supply. This makes it more expensive for polluting-but-essential industries like steel and mining to switch to clean energy, and means that West Australians get left behind as other nations take the prize share of jobs and opportunities from the global shift to clean, low-emissions energy and resources. 

This is the context in which Woodside is pushing ahead with the Burrup Hub, which involves drilling multiple wells across two huge massive offshore gas fields and extending the operations of gas infrastructure until 2070. 

Woodside knows full well that if it goes ahead, the Burrup Hub will be Australia’s dirtiest fossil fuel project, producing the equivalent of more than 12 times Australia’s annual domestic climate pollution. But Woodside apparently doesn’t care, so long as it can deliver short-term profits to shareholders.

Going back to the Premier’s question – which he asked in the context of some protestors turning up outside Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill’s house last week – it’s no wonder that so many people are obsessed with stopping Woodside. 

And it is a shame that the protestors became the story – rather than that Woodside had been given the green light to blast the ocean.

The quiet frustration is growing, amongst ordinary people who are worried about the future and are fed up with Woodside being allowed to chuck a spanner in the works.

There is a rising tide of determination that the state’s future can be clean, safe, and prosperous – powered by renewable energy. The real obsession is with building that better future; which is why so many West Australians are now determined to stop Woodside. You can join them.

Tell Woodside it’s time to walk away from its toxic gas project.

David Ritter is the CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific

There are so many beautiful places all over the globe to celebrate, and no two are quite alike. From the medicines that come from the rainforest to the lakes and streams that serve as our freshwater sources, there is no doubt that our well-being is interwoven with that of the environment. However, human impact has stressed many of these environments through pollution, mining, deforestation and changing climates.

The ten locations that follow are both stunning to the eye and biologically diverse. Many have a relatively low human impact due to lower population density or because of their remote location.

Today, these places appear to us as nature in its purest form, but how will they look tomorrow if we do not stand up to companies that are damaging our common home.

In order to protect these pristine conditions, we must take ownership of our own conservation and environmental efforts. From avoiding excessive plastic use to contacting your local representatives to demand change, the future of the environment is in our hands. Let us reflect upon what we are lucky to have on behalf of the planet, but more importantly, to recognise the importance and urgency in continuing to protect it.

1. The Rainforests of Papua New Guinea

© Markus Mauthe / Greenpeace

Areas of rainforest in Papua New Guinea remain relatively untouched by humans due to a spans of protected areas. Local communities have taken the initiative to keep control of their natural resources, and as a result the biodiversity has flourished for many years. Sadly, today, more than 60% of Papua New Guinea’s ancient forests have been lost to deforestation. And in Australia, we are part of the problem. Read more here.

2. The Galapagos Islands

© John Goldblatt / Greenpeace

The Galapagos Islands are home to incredible biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. The endemic species of these islands were famously studied by naturalist Charles Darwin, and many of these species are found nowhere else in the world. The Ecuadorian government has created many initiatives to continue protecting this valuable ecosystem, such as a visitor management system that helps to monitor and halt invasive species introduction.

3. Seychelles

Photo by Alin Meceanu on Unsplash

A picturesque white sand beach in the Seychelles perfectly depicts the pristine landscape that is found all throughout this particular archipelago. Found off the eastern coast of Africa, the local government has instituted many marine protected areas which have been successful in warding off illegal fishing.

4. Namibia

Photo by jean wimmerlin on Unsplash

Located in Southern Africa, Namibia is one of the only countries to have a commitment to conservation outlined in its constitution. The country has also had great success in fighting poaching, as government organisations and the private sector have joined efforts to achieve greater environmental protection.

5. Antarctica

© Paul Hilton / Greenpeace

Only inhabited by its indigenous wildlife and a small number of scientists, Antarctica is the only continent on earth without its own native population. The almost entirely undeveloped landscape accommodates a limited number of hardy native species, such as the elephant seal, humpback whale, and emperor penguins. Additionally, there is a surprisingly high amount of plant diversity in the Antarctic, including numerous well-adapted moss and lichen species.

Sadly, the impacts of climate change and industrial-scale fishing operations are placing increasing pressure on this unique ecosystem.

6. The Great Australian Bight

© Ella Colley / Greenpeace

The Great Australian Bight, an open bay off the central and western portions of the southern coastline of mainland Australia, is home to dozens of seaside communities, majestic southern right whales, sea lions and hundreds of kilometres of towering cliffs. The Bight is also a breeding ground for many unique species, and 85% of Great Australian Bight marine life is found nowhere else on earth. 

7. Tanzania

© Roberto Isotti / A.Cambone / Homo ambiens / Greenpeace

Community based wildlife protection in Tanzania helps to maintain overall biodiversity of the East African country. Pictured here, an African bush elephant walks throughout Ngoro-ngoro National Park, Tanzania. Establishment of Wildlife Management Areas has helped to protect this elephant and many other species from poaching and habitat loss.

8. Jujuy Province, Argentina

© Martin Katz / Greenpeace

Located in the northernmost areas of Argentina, the Jujuy Province is home to a vast landscape of jungles, kilometres of salt flats, and towering mountain ranges. Pictured here is the Calilegua National Park, a federally protected area that is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the country. Transpiration from the dense forest vegetation creates low-lying clouds that weave their way through the treetops, as pictured above. Unfortunately, has been a history of being a target for oil exploration.

9. Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

© Greenpeace

Full of vast mountain ranges and snow-covered peaks, Jasper National Park is the largest National Park in the Canadian Rockies. It is also home to healthy populations of rare North American fauna, such as grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves. 

10. Bear Island, Norway

© Mitja Kobal / Greenpeace

Bear Island, the southernmost island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, is a federally protected area that is uninhabited and undeveloped by humans. Native species and large seabird colonies can be found on the island, oftentimes captured circling the steep cliffs. Bear Island also is dotted with glacial formations, caverns, and isolated rock pillars.

The wonder and beauty of our natural world cannot be captured in a mere ten photos, yet these images help to remind us what is at stake. World Environment Day is a powerful reminder and call to action for us all. We can all take steps to be a better citizen of the Earth, and can play a role in calling upon our decision-makers do the same. 

We’ve come to Shark Bay with marine scientist Dr Olaf Meynecke to document one of this area’s many incredible wild features – the lush seagrass meadows that provide habitat, food and shelter for marine wildlife. Seagrasses are aquatic flowering plants that form meadows in coastal waters, creating vital ecosystems for ocean health.

Seagrass is also one of the most important blue carbon sinks, vital to tackling climate change. Per hectare, seagrasses can store up to twice as much carbon than terrestrial forests. Research estimates the global seagrass ecosystem organic carbon pool could be as high as 19.9 billion metric tons.

Shark Bay’s seagrass bank covers 1030 square kilometres, making it the largest seagrass meadow in the world. It provides food and shelter for around 10,000 dugongs who make their home in the bay – that’s 10 per cent of the world’s entire dugong population.

As the RHIBs speed away from the Rainbow Warrior towards Shark Bay, loggerhead turtles surface close to the boat, bobbing for an instant before darting back to the azure depths.

It doesn’t take long for the first dugong sighting, spotted by a member of our team a short snorkel away from the boat. Dugongs, commonly known as “sea cows”, are the peaceful grazers of the ocean, and they depend on healthy sea grass to survive.

If there is not enough seagrass to eat then, it affects the dugong’s breeding cycle. And that means that climate change, driven by burning fossil fuels, poses a particular risk to these gentle creatures.

In 2011 Shark Bay was hit by a catastrophic marine heatwave that destroyed 900 square kilometres of seagrass. Shark Bay was recently rated one of the World Heritage Areas with the highest vulnerability to climate change, using the Climate Change Vulnerability Index.

A high likelihood of extreme marine heat events, such as the 2011 event that destroyed so much seagrass, is predicted to have catastrophic consequences in Shark Bay. The region is also threatened by increasingly frequent and intense storms, and warming air temperatures.

But for now, Shark Bay is healthy and teeming with life. And that includes a thriving shark population.

Making our way back to the Rainbow Warrior, Dr Meynecke spots circling seabirds, which have gathered to feast on a bait ball, a silvery, tightly packed mass of thousands of fish. Dropping into the water to document it, our team encounters several large bronze whalers circling in close to investigate these strange creatures who’ve interrupted their lunch. The team is elated by their encounter with the ocean’s apex predator – but quick to make their way back to the boat when the sharks come a little too close for comfort.

Fossil fuel company Woodside’s dangerous plans for the Burrup Hub put the magnificent creatures that inhabit Shark Bay at risk.  Climate change is causing more frequent and intense marine heatwaves, with the world’s ocean surface temperatures recently hitting record highs. This could have lethal consequences for the seagrass meadows of Shark Bay.

Woodside’s Burrup Hub would produce twelve times Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions if it goes ahead, posing an unacceptable risk to this unique and special place.

Shark Bay is like nowhere on earth. We must act to protect it. 

Email Your MP

By Fiona Ivits

Emma from SS4C seated at the bow of the Rainbow Warrior at dusk in Fremantle, 27 April 2023.

What is your name? Emma. I’m 16.

Where did you grow up? Margaret River – I love the ocean there, the trees and the community is really nice. I’m glad I live there.

Describe how you got involved in climate activism. When I was 13 or so we watched a David Attenborough documentary in class. It was called ‘A Life On Our Planet’ and there was a scene where he went through what would happen in 40 years if we did not meet our global 1.5 degree global warming target. Fires, floods, trees, no animals. This really really shocked me – so much doom and gloom. But then he started talking about solutions and I remember thinking they all seemed really easy. Really achievable, and they would make a much better world. So I struggled to understand why we weren’t doing any of those things, why our politicians kept ignoring the calls for change and continued leading us down an irreversible path towards an unsafe climate. That summer we had the 2020 bushfires. I was over east and saw the Hawkesbury covered in smoke and became increasingly frustrated by watching Scott Morrison, his inaction, and the way he ignored climate affected communities, the way he kept blocking and delaying climate justice. That’s when I started googling climate organisations and found School Strike 4 Climate. I learned about the Fund Our Future Not Gas campaign that SS4C was running. Scomo in the budget after the recession at that time was all “gas lead recovery” for the economy. I’m no economist but I knew that sounded like a terrible plan.

Do you have any particular anecdote or story about becoming an activist that you’d like to tell? Are there any special moments that stand out? The May 21st strike in 2021 was really crazy for me. I was 14 and had never done any community organising before. I helped to organise a Friday School Strike in the park. I remember going through permits and learning everything from scratch. But on the day, seeing friends and volunteers all turning up to the strike to stand together for climate justice, against dangerous gas was incredible. We’re just a small town but on that day it felt so powerful. It’s still one of my favourite moments. The community you make and meet through this work is so beautiful. Just hugging people and feeling lucky, so proud of this movement is one of my favourite things – there is so much love and support. Since then I’ve met some incredible mentors. Anybody that has worked at School Strike – graduated strikers and adults. I’ve learnt so much from them, and I’m so grateful.

What are you doing at SS4C? Describe how you got involved. Right now, locally we are in the process of conducting a survey to learn more about what people want to see in the Federal budget. Our Federal MP hasn’t really been very engaged with our community and listened or advocated for us. So we’re organising a big visual art installation of what our community wants to see in the Federal Budget so they won’t be able to miss it. This is in my electorate of Forrest.

Have you witnessed anything that makes you especially anxious about climate change?

Fires and seeing the impact it has on communities. When a fire happens it affects everyone. I’ve watched friends evacuate their whole lives. Politicians making big decisions that have big implications – new fossil fuel project approvals, like the process currently underway for Woodside’s Burrup Hub.

What gives you hope? The community in the climate movement and everyone I work with. Walking to be a proxy at Woodside’s shareholder meeting and seeing everyone there protesting, being so strong and staunch.  I am so proud of everyone I get to organise with,  seeing people everywhere, particularly my friends, organising things across the country to fight for climate justice makes me so hopeful – that we can build a better, more just future.

What do you know about Burrup Hub? I know its emissions will be 4 x times bigger than Adani – bigger than Australia’s national emissions combined with 6 x times Australia’s annual climate pollution. A lot of people have been outraged recently over the Willow project in America being approved – I watch their jaws drop when they find out that the Burrup Hub is 14 x times bigger in emissions than that. Burrup Hub’s climate change impacts have real and more tangible impacts on communities across the country. It has the potential to harm our oceans and reef, and damage First Nations’ Country. I love open water swimming and do this every weekend at Gnarabup and this alone is enough to make me angry. Imagine what it feels like to have your sacred spaces threatened or destroyed?

What would you like to say to Woodside ahead of the Paddle Out?

To Meg O’Neil – how do you stand there looking so poker-faced knowing your decisions are going to do so much damage to my generation and everyone in the future? You keep saying phrases like ‘offsetting emissions’ knowing full well the impact it will have. I want to believe your empty promises, so very much, but I have no trust in your words. You throw words around like confetti, but I don’t think you know that these words you throw around mean so much, that they matter. I expect better from you because it means so much to young people like me – you are playing with my future. Burrup Hub is risking everything – our country, our futures, our hopes of having a safe climate

Greenpeace and community paddle out in Fremantle, Western Australia for #WhalesnotWoodside. credit line: © Michael Lutman / Greenpeace

What will you do when you leave school? I thought about environmental law or environmental science for a while there but I am not sure I want to work in environmental law. I am in Year 11 now so it’s something I’m actively thinking about. I know I want to keep organising when I leave school. Where I find joy is organising and fighting for a better future. 

Was your mum a big influence in your life? In some ways yeah. In the early and late 90s she lived in Northcliffe – a tiny town kind of on the way to Albany. She used to go there and do sit-ins in trees. It was the start of the decades-long fight to save Western Australia’s old growth forests. She wasn’t in that movement for the longest time or necessarily the most active member, but I recall her telling me about a forest called Boorara. She lived in a house on her friend Wally’s property, he is a farmer, and the state government had decided to log trees on his property. In her room there is a photo of one of the huge trees in Boorara.

What advice do you have for other young people like yourself who may want to get involved in the climate movement but aren’t sure where to start? Just start! Getting involved with the climate movement is one of the best things I’ve ever done! Something that I was told growing up was you can’t complain about something if you are being passive, not doing anything to fix it, and I think you can apply this to the climate crisis! If you are frustrated by government inaction or scared for the future, transfer that into action! There are loads of great climate orgs in Australia to get involved with, and they all have the most lovely people who will support you in getting involved.

Some that I recommend,

1. School Strike for Climate (SS4C)
2. Greenpeace
3. The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC)
4. Tomorrow Movement 

They all do different amazing things. There’s also so many local organisations who you can get involved with – your local environment centre, a local environmental campaign! I went into organising with no support or knowledge other than what my mum had shared with me about how she used to blockade forests, it was a good experience to learn through doing things. Nannas for Native Forests are amazing – nannas going to sit on equipment and lock on! They are a community group that has helped me so much! 

If the nannas can do it – so can you!

Dr Olaf Meynecke Whale Watching on the Rainbow Warrior in the Perth Canyon. Photo credit: Harriet Spark/ Grumpy Turtle 2023

With its nutrient-rich waters and water stretching down to depths of 5000 metres, the Perth Canyon area is a crucial feeding ground for blue whales.

Pygmy blue whales migrate along the Western Australian coast during the winter months, and the Rainbow Warrior is following their migration path, documenting the majesty of these beautiful animals and exposing the harm that could be caused to their environment by fossil fuel company Woodside’s plans for its monstrous offshore gas project, the Burrup Hub.

The Rainbow Warrior left Fremantle yesterday morning, waved off by locals lining the sea wall, in search of whales in the Perth Canyon. Sailing with us was Dr Olaf Meynecke, marine biologist and whale expert, who specialises in research on the impact of climate change on whales.

Rainbow Warrior Crew Whale Watching in the Perth Canyon. Photo credit: Harriet Spark/ Grumpy Turtle 2023

Armed with an array of scientific equipment, including dip hydrophones to record whale sound, a plankton tow to measure microscopic sea life and devices to gauge microplastics in the ocean, Dr Meynecke hopes to find out more about whale populations in this area. 

Campaigners and crew were assigned to a visual surveying roster, standing in the bow of the ship scanning the horizon for any sign of whale life. And Perth Canyon did not disappoint.

Our first whale sighting, off the starboard bow, brought everyone running to the deck. A high spout of water out to sea, followed by a sassy flip of a tail. Dr Meynecke confirmed that this was indeed the whale we’d come to see – the pygmy blue whale.

More sightings and spouts followed, each one recorded by the visual surveying crew to add to the data about these elusive whales. In mid afternoon Dr Meynecke, accompanied by Greenpeace Germany campaigner Franzi, set off in a RHIB to get up close and personal with the whales, using the hydrophones to record their song.

The whales obliged, surfacing so close to the boat that they took the observation crew by surprise. These whales, naturally curious and playful, will often come close to smaller vessels to check them out, sometimes even following them.

Over several hours there were no less than eight whale sightings, including blue whales and humpbacks. After celebrating the end of commercial whaling in Albany last week, seeing these beautiful and majestic creatures thriving in WA’s waters was confirmation of why we are here.

A Greenpeace Zodiac in the Perth Canyon WA Whale Watching. Credit: Harriet Spark/ Grumpy Turtle 2023

But while whaling is no longer a threat in Australian waters, whales today face more complex challenges.

Warming oceans driven by climate change are changing migration patterns and making food scarce. Noise pollution from engines is a huge source of stress for vulnerable whale populations. With Woodside planning to start seismic blasting to assess gas reserves for its controversial Burrup Hub any day now, protecting whales and exposing the threats they face is more important than ever. Write to your MP and tell them you want a clean energy future, not Woodside’s dirty gas.

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