<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/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’”.
The statement published by the Pacific Elder’s Voice, an independent group of
former leaders from Pacific countries, charged Australia with hypocrisy over
the decision saying it “cannot, with a clear conscience, condone an action
which knowingly endangers the future of our people and indeed that of
humanity.”
“Australia’s actions in approving these mines which will increase emissions and
enhance global warming leading to the demise of small islands is a slap in the
face of fellow member nations of the Pacific Islands Forum,” it said.
“As a member of the Forum, Australia’s actions are in sharp contradiction to
its platitudes around caring for the Pacific ‘family.’ The Woodside project is
a demonstration of Australia’s glaring disconnect between rhetoric and action.”
The intervention comes as the United Nations climate and weather agency, the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO), found nearly 40m square kilometres of
ocean in the western Pacific region experienced heatwaves in 2024.
Ocean temperatures in the region, including waters surrounding the Australian
land mass, reached new highs last year according to the WMO’s
State of the
Climate in the South-West Pacific 2024 report, with the effect spreading to
ten percent of the world’s marine waters.
WMO secretary-general, Celeste Saulo, said ocean heat and acidification were
inflicting long-lasting damage on marine ecosystems and economies.
“It is increasingly evident that we are fast running out of time to turn the
tide,” she said.
The WMO found the annual average sea surface temperature for the region was the
highest since records began in the early 1980s."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
