The fossil fuel industry playbook is so predictable, it is almost tedious.
They continue to plan for ever-expanding oil, gas and coal production. They seek to win over governments by commissioning modelling that exaggerates the economic benefits new projects could deliver, all while ignoring the catastrophic harm fossil fuels will cause to the world’s climate systems and vulnerable communities.
The playbook was on show again last month, when fossil fuel giant Woodside announced that its proposed Browse to North West Shelf Project – a project that Woodside describes as “Australia’s biggest undeveloped offshore gas resource” – would generate more than $140 billion in economic benefits and billions in tax payments for Australia, and create thousands of new jobs.
Woodside’s figures are based on a report it commissioned from ‘big four’ consultancy Deloitte. That the ‘independent’ report was produced by the global consultancy firm lends its findings the veneer of credibility.
This is very much part of the service firms like Deloitte offer to their clients, particularly when those clients want to convince governments to approve new projects.
