A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit brought by Greenpeace Australia Pacific against fossil fuel multinational Woodside in the Federal Court of Australia.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific filed the lawsuit against Woodside in December 2023, alleging the fossil fuel giant had misrepresented both its prior emissions reductions, and its emissions reductions targets for 2025, 2030, and 2050.
Greenpeace alleged, among other things, that Woodside represented that its emissions reduction targets will achieve substantial reductions in its actual scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, when in fact Woodside will rely heavily on offsets to achieve a decrease in net emissions.
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Greenpeace also alleged that Woodside represented that its emissions reduction targets are consistent with what the most recent climate science sets out as necessary to meet the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement when in fact Woodside’s emissions reduction targets do not include Woodside’s scope 3 emissions (which account for over 90% of Woodside’s emissions), and Woodside has plans to significantly expand its oil and gas production and processing and thereby the sum of its actual scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions would not materially decrease by 2030 and may increase past 2030.
“Woodside has since changed how it represents its strategy to respond to climate change. For example, initially, Woodside displayed a ‘Net zero by 2050 or sooner’ banner on its website, but around July 2025, Woodside removed the banner from its website,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific said in a statement.
Woodside released a brief statement in relation to the settlement, with noticeably different verbiage: “The Federal Court of Australia today dismissed proceedings launched against Woodside Energy by Greenpeace Australia Pacific (GAP) in December 2023. Woodside welcomes this outcome.
“The proceedings, in which GAP challenged certain representations made by Woodside in relation to its climate strategy and emissions reduction targets, were dismissed by consent of both parties, who will bear their own costs.”
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Head of Climate and Energy Joe Rafalowicz said,“Greenpeace Australia Pacific cares about transparent and accurate climate disclosures, and in December 2023, took Woodside to court challenging its claims.
“During the course of the case, Woodside changed how it was presenting its plans on carbon emissions from what they had said prior to us bringing this case. We take that as a win and have decided to continue the fight against fossil fuel corporations outside of the courts.
“Settling this case does not signal the end of our fight against Woodside’s climate- and nature-destroying gas projects. While we may have agreed to resolve our court action against Woodside, in which we alleged it made misleading and deceptive claims to investors regarding its climate plans, the fact is the court of public opinion will judge Woodside for the harm it inflicts on our climate.
“Greenpeace strongly supports public interest litigation as a crucial tool in democratic engagement to protect our planet and holding large corporations accountable for their contributions to climate change.”
Conservationists from the Australian Conservation Foundation and Traditional Owners will rally outside today’s annual general meeting Woodside’s headquarters in Perth.
Woodside plans to pipe the Browse gas drilled at Scott Reef via a 1000km underwater pipeline to the controversial North West Shelf gas hub at Murujuga.
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Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Murujuga Traditional Custodian Kaylene Daniel said, “We will be attending the AGM today because it is important to speak up about what Woodside are doing to Murujuga. If no one says anything, it won’t be protected.”
ACF has written to environment minister Murray Watt with a Browse assessment ‘reconsideration request’ based on substantial new scientific information.
