Location: Scott Reef WA

Image credit: Nush Freedman Photography

• The project area in Woodside’s revised Browse Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) proposal is only six kilometres from Scott Reef, one of Australia’s most ecologically significant marine environments

• The proposal would require decades of seismic blasting to monitor carbon under the sea floor, resulting in long-term impacts on whales, turtles, sea snakes and marine food chains

• Experts warn Australians are being asked to accept long-term environmental risks associated with dumping carbon pollution locally, while the gas produced through the project is intended for international markets

• With public consultation open now and closing on July 24, Australians are being asked to weigh in on a decision that will shape the future of Scott Reef and the expansion of offshore CCS in Australia’s energy future

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is calling for greater scrutiny of Woodside’s revised Browse Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) proposal, which would see carbon pollution dumped near Scott Reef, an ancient coral reef supporting globally-significant marine life.

The proposal, which is currently open for public consultation until July 24, represents a major decision point for the future of Scott Reef and the role that carbon pollution dumping will play in Australia’s energy future.

Woodside’s Browse CCS project proposes to collect, transport and inject carbon dioxide beneath the seabed over a 50-year period as part of its plans to develop nearby gas fields, which are located beneath the seabed, near Scott Reef and surrounding areas.

The revised proposal has shifted the project area significantly closer to Scott Reef, reducing the distance from approximately 21 kilometres to just over six kilometres, increasing concerns about potential impacts on one of Australia’s most important marine ecosystems.

Chelsea Deng, Fossil Fuels Campaigner at Australian Marine Conservation Society, says, “Scott Reef is one of Australia’s most extraordinary marine environments, supporting threatened species and unique ecosystems that have developed over millions of years.

Location: Scott Reef WA

Image credit: Nush Freedman Photography

“Carbon pollution dumping is increasingly being presented as part of Australia’s energy future, but it will not deliver the emissions reductions needed to meet Australia’s climate targets. While questions remain around long-term storage certainty, effectiveness and the environmental risks associated with industrialising sensitive marine environments, carbon dumping is not a solution to continued fossil fuel expansion and cannot replace the urgent need to rapidly reduce emissions at their source.”

The Browse CCS proposal covers more than 456,900 hectares and has the potential to impact 28 threatened species and 46 migratory marine species, including pygmy blue whales, green turtles, hawksbill turtles and the critically-endangered dusky sea snake.

One of AMCS’ key concerns is the requirement for repeated seismic blasting over decades to monitor carbon dumped beneath the seabed. Seismic blasting creates intense underwater noise that can disrupt marine species that rely on sound to communicate, navigate and feed. Research has shown seismic activity can alter whale behaviour and distribution, while also killing zooplankton, the foundation of the ocean food chain and an important food source for species, including pygmy blue whales.

Thomas Houlie, Climate and Energy Policy Analyst at Carbon Analytics, says, “CCS is not a substitute for cutting emissions. Our research based on IPCC scenarios showed that an ambitious climate trajectory with high reliance on CCS would be both more costly than the alternative and riskier. If CCS plants run at the capture rates they achieve today, rather than the optimistic figures the industry puts forward, the result would be much more CO₂ in the atmosphere. Meanwhile, we know that there is no need for new fossil gas fields should the world align with the 1.5°C temperature limit.”

The proposal also comes amid growing scrutiny of CCS globally, with the latest available data showing that 78% of projects have been cancelled or placed on hold. The development highlights the financial, technical and operational challenges associated with delivering large-scale CCS projects and raises questions about whether carbon dumping can be relied upon as a pathway to address Australia’s climate challenges.

The organisation is urging Australians to participate in the consultation process and consider the long-term implications of approving offshore carbon dumping near Scott Reef, a globally significant marine environment.

About Australian Marine Conservation Society 

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) is Australia’s leading voice for ocean conservation. As an independent charity, we have been protecting our precious marine life and habitats since 1965. We are a passionate community of scientists, educators, and advocates dedicated to safeguarding Australia’s oceans. Our work has helped establish vital marine reserves, protect endangered species like the Australian sea lion, stop supertrawlers and lead efforts to ban whaling. From the Great Barrier Reef to Ningaloo, together with our community of ocean lovers, AMCS fights for healthy oceans and marine wildlife every day.

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