On December 13, 2023, Greenpeace Australian Pacific Limited, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), filed a complaint in the Federal Court of Australia against Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The plaintiff alleges that Woodside, which is Australia’s largest oil and gas company, mislead the public when stating that it “set targets to reduce its net equity Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030 below its gross annual average equity emissions in the period 2016-2020”, that “its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in 2022 were 11% lower than the starting base”, and that “its Emissions Reduction Targets are science-based and consistent with Paris-aligned pathways and scenarios.” 

Greenpeace contends that this reduction in emissions was solely due to carbon offset purchases (retiring 754,000 tCO2e credits), despite actual emissions rising by approximately 3.4%. Greenpeace further contends that Woodside's displaying of a “Net zero by 2050” aspiration on its website excludes Scope 3 emissions, which account for over 90% of Woodside’s emissions. Greenpeace alleges that the exclusion of Scope 3 emissions deems the “science-based” statements claiming to be aligned with Paris Agreement goals as a misleading, greenwashing claim. 

Greenpeace asserts that Woodside’s statements are deceptive under s18(1) of the Australian Consumer Law, s12DA(1) of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act, and s1041H(1) of the Corporations Act. As a result, Greenpeace seeks declarations that the claims are misleading, injunctions to prevent future misconduct, orders for corrective advertising, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. 

As of February 2024, the Court scheduled the first directions hearing, but no further hearings or substantive rulings have been reported. 


Greenpeace Australia Pacific Limited v Woodside Energy Group Ltd

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Greenpeace Australia Pacific Limited v Woodside Energy Group Ltd - complaint

Filed

Australia

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Tradable permits are market-based tools that grant permission for specific activities, frequently used to regulate emissions. These permits can be issued within a trading system to manage environmental impacts.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

A commitment to balance GHG emissions with removal by a certain point in time, effectively reducing the net emissions to zero

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater systems to climate change.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater, coastal and marine systems to climate change.

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

A potent, short-lived greehouse gas, largely released from livestock, fossil fuel extraction and waste management.

Actions to reduce emissions in energy generation and supply.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from carbonised plant matter, rich in carbon and hydrocarbons, and occurring in several main types including hard coal and brown coal.

Any compulsory, unrequited payment to the government levied on corporations or individuals. This can be for environmental reasons, such as introducing a Carbon tax to set a price that emitters must pay for the greenhouse gases they emit.

Activities of industries that extract natural resources, such as mining, oil, and gas, for commercial use.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

This sector involves the wholesale and retail selling of goods.

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

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Any substance with chemical properties that can cause physical harm to people or damage the environment, including ammonia, carbon monoxide, phosphine, chlorine, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, pesticides, dioxins, microplastics, benzene, asbestos, aflatoxins, fluoride, methanol, and toxins from marine sources.

Slow onset events evolve gradually from incremental changes over many years or from increased frequency or intensity of recurring events. As defined in the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010), slow onset events include risks and impacts from rising temperatures, desertification, biodiversity loss, land and forest degradation, glacial retreat, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and salinization.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Limited v Woodside Energy Group Ltd - complaint

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance