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Greenpeace files class action against fossil fuel giant
Greenpeace Australia alleged Woodside misled or deceived the public about its climate performance and plans.
Naomi Neilson
In a class action filed in the Federal Court, Greenpeace alleged the fossil fuel giant engaged in conduct that was misleading or deceptive when it made statements about its greenhouse gas emissions.
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In one example, Greenhouse alleged Woodside’s emissions went up by 3 per cent despite it representing it had cut climate pollution from extracting and processing its gas and oil by 11 per cent in 2022.
Greenpeace also alleged that despite a plan to be “net zero” by 2050, Woodside did not mention that this did not apply to the 90 per cent of pollution produced when oil and gas get burnt.
General counsel Katrina Bullock said statements made by Woodside were designed to make investors, governments and the public think it was reducing emissions, “when in truth, the company’s emissions are increasing”.
“It is clearly in the public interest to ensure big polluters such as Woodside are held to account for their allegedly misleading or deceptive conduct,” Ms Bullock said.
If successful, Greenpeace predicts the case could improve disclosure transparency and could force other fossil fuel companies to be upfront about the scope and impact of their business plans.
Greenpeace chief executive David Ritter said Woodside is “treating the Australian public and its shareholders like mugs”.
“Greenpeace won’t stand idly by as Australia’s biggest climate threat – a company that is profiteering from climate devastation – buries the truth about its impact in the fine print,” Mr Ritter said.
