[Image credit: Michael J Fromholtz]

Friends of the Earth Melbourne has today slammed the Victorian Government decision to approve Beach Energy's production of gas from near the Twelve Apostles off the Otway coast.

Touted as necessary to avoid gas shortfalls by 2028, the project is expected to produce ten petajoules of climate polluting fossil gas each year for fifteen years.

Quotes attributable to No More Gas campaigner Freja Leonard:

“The International Energy Agency and climate scientists the world over have for years been warning that we can’t afford a single new fossil fuel project if we are to have any chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change.”

“Methane is around eighty times more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide over a twenty year period. The coming years are critical if we are to ensure a liveable planet.”

“Victoria is the heaviest domestic gas using state in Australia. We use about a third of the gas burned nationally in this state alone – and half of that is blown on heating buildings which we know can be done more efficiently and affordably using electric heating.”

“Australia signed on to the Global Methane Pledge at COP 26 – committing to reduce Australia’s methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. Yet ever since then we have seen more and more gas projects gaining approval.”

“There is no excuse or need for another gas project in this country, despite everything the gas industry is desperately trying to tell us. They have had it all their way for too long at the expense of the climate and the Australian economy.”