Andrew Forrest’s mining company Fortescue says North West Shelf project approval ‘a step backwards’ on climate ambition

The mining company Fortescue Metals – owned by the billionaire Andrew Forrest, who says he aims to meet “real zero” carbon emissions – has sharply criticised the Albanese government’s approval of a 40-year life extension for the North West Shelf gas processing facility.

The company’s chief executive, Dino Otranto, said the idea that Australia could lock in fossil fuel projects until 2070 while still claiming progress toward net zero was “concerning”.

If Australia is serious about tackling climate change we must move beyond net zero and commit to genuine emissions reduction.

Extending high-emitting projects like the North West Shelf is not a credible long-term climate solution – it’s a step backward. More than that, it raises serious questions about how we define climate ambition in Australia.

We need to ask ourselves why we are rewarding companies that continue to burn fossil fuels, instead of incentivising those that are leading the way on decarbonisation. Every year, Australia pours billions into fossil fuel subsidies – public funds that should be redirected toward eliminating emissions.

The Guardian