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“Natural gas is already making it possible for nations to transition to a reliable, and relatively low emissions, electricity supply.”
Chief Scientist of Australia, Dr Alan Finkel, addressing the National Press Club in February 2020.
Natural gas is the natural step to net zero, and the natural partner to renewables.
We support the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rises to well below 2 degrees Celsius. At Woodside, we want to be net zero for our operations by 2050.
Natural gas has a significant role to play in the world's energy transformation as the lowest emission hydrocarbon fuel. Last year alone, coal-to gas fuel switching for power generation avoided 100 million tonnes of CO2 in advanced economies.1
Renewables are also a big part of the journey to net zero, and we are investing in lower and zero carbon energy sources for the future.
Because it’s reliable, gas is the natural partner to renewables, helping the lights stay on and the fridge stay cold when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn’t shining.
As Australia’s leading natural gas producer, we’re part of a better future.
Taking action to limit emissions
We are pursuing a range of initiatives independent of our joint venture partners to reach our aspiration to be carbon-neutral by 2050, including:
- A commitment to offset equity reservoir CO2 emissions across our global portfolio from 2021 (approximately 20% of our current GHG emissions).
- A partnership with Greening Australia to plant about 7.5 million native trees in 2020. We have invested over A$100 million in biosequestration to date.
- A target to improve energy efficiency by 5% against baseline over 2016-20, with a new 5% target for 2021-25.
- Using battery storage to reduce fuel gas consumption.
- Developing new markets for LNG as a lower-emissions fuel in trucking and shipping.
- Supporting international efforts, signing up to the World Bank's Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, the Guiding Principles for Reducing Methane Emissions Across the Natural Gas Value Chain, and the International Energy Trading Association's Markets for Natural Climate Solutions initiative.
- Investing A$40 million in research to progress Australia's transition to a lower-carbon economy through the Woodside Monash Energy Partnership.
- Diversifying our business into supplying lower and zero carbon energy sources for the future. We are investigating the potential for hydrogen and exploring technologies that use carbon dioxide at scale.
45 %
increase in LNG demand by 2030
IHS Autonomy forecast; comparison made between 2017 actual and 2030 forecast.
16.3 %
reduction in flared gas at our onshore processing facilities
>850,000 tonnes
of CO2 offset by Pluto LNG since 2008
"We must develop resources in a way that is as carbon-efficient as possible. It’s up to us, as industry leaders, to ensure this is prioritised."
Sustainability data hub
Woodside has an active role to play in contributing to the well-being of our communities and creating a more sustainable future.
Explore our sustainability data
Experts agree that natural gas has a big role to play in a lower carbon world.
Independent expert analysis by Environmental Resources Management shows Woodside’s Browse and Scarborough projects could avoid more than 400Mt of CO2-e emissions between 2025 and 2040 by replacing higher emission fuels in countries that need our energy. For comparison, Western Australia’s annual emissions are about 90 million tonnes.
The 2014 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that “GHG emissions from energy supply can be reduced significantly” by switching to gas. According to the IPCC, electricity generated from gas has on average half the greenhouse emissions of electricity generated from coal.
Under the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Sustainable Development Scenario, which sees global temperature rises limited to well below 2oC this century, demand for natural gas increases to 2040, showing that the IEA considers more gas use a useful contribution to meet its goal.Related documents
About Us Documents
Sustainability Documents
Company Reports
Committed to reducing our emissions
Woodside is proud to be a signatory to The World Bank's Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative.
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Woodside acknowledges Indigenous people's connections to land, water and community. We pay our respects to ancestors and elders - past, present and emerging. We recognise the many contributions Indigenous people make to our business, as community members and employees.