SYDNEY, Thursday 22 October 2026 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has nominated Scott Reef to join the likes of the Ningaloo and Great Barrier reefs on the National Heritage list based on its ecological and scientific values.
The nomination was compiled by marine scientists Dr Vania Andreoli, Dr Kristina Heidrich and Oceanwise Director, Doctor Ben Fitzpatrick, and reviewed by Professor Peter Valentine, a former member of the Australian Heritage Council, on behalf of Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
Key points of the nomination include:
- Deeper habitats in the south of Scott Reef have barely been explored, and are likely to reveal more species not yet known to science.
- Scott Reef appears to be the last remaining stronghold of the dusky sea snake, an endangered species endemic to Australian waters.
- Scott Reef supports invertebrates found nowhere else, some not yet formally named, and its plankton includes at least 14 copepod species that appear to be new to science.
- Sandy Islet, on South Scott Reef, is one of only two nesting sites of a genetically distinct green turtle stock.
Woodside’s proposal to drill up to 57 wells around and underneath Scott Reef for oil and gas would put threatened species including pygmy blue whales and green sea turtles at increased risk, and emit 1.6 billion tonnes of climate pollution. The project also risks Australia’s worst ever oil spill, according to Woodside’s own modelling.
Both the approval or rejection of Woodside’s Scott Reef drilling plans and the addition of Scott Reef to the National Heritage register are to be decided by the Federal Minister for Environment.
The nomination comes after two Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists climbed and occupied a Floating Production Unit (FPU) at Woodside’s Scarborough Gas project calling for the government to “Stop Woodside’s Dirty Gas” and “Save Scott Reef”.
Hannah Schuch, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: “While Woodside’s plans to drill from around the pristine Scott Reef have been making national and international headlines, leading scientists, Dr Ben Fitzpatrick and Professor Peter Valentine have supported the nomination of Scott Reef for National Heritage listing due to its significant natural values.
“Scott Reef is an ancient coral reef, important feeding grounds for endangered pygmy blue whales who pass through the nutrient rich waters on their annual migration, and home to extremely vulnerable green sea turtles who only nest at Scott Reef.
“Woodside’s reckless drilling plans at Scott Reef fly in the face of science. This reef system is of national importance and scientific significance.
“The prospect of drilling for oil or gas at the Ningaloo or Great Barrier reefs would be considered absolute madness today, but that is exactly the decision before the government now.
“Murray Watt and the Albanese Labor government have an opportunity to protect the national significance of Scott Reef, and make history by stopping Woodside’s nature and climate wrecking plans.”
-ENDS-
Doctor Ben Fitzpatrick, Director of Oceanwise, and Professor Peter Valentine, James Cook University, are available for interview.
Media contact
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Emma Sangalli on 0431 513 465 or emma.sangalli@greenpeace.org
High res images and footage of Scott Reef can be found here
Photos and videos of Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s protest can be found here
Greenpeace nominates Scott Reef to National Heritage list for ecological significance
Climate Change
Albanese must deliver credible action to end fossil fuel chokehold, not just rhetoric
ANTALYA,Türkiye, Thursday 12 November 2026 — In response to Prime Minister Albanese’s COP31 Leaders’ Summit address, Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, speaking from Antalya said:
“Prime Minister Albanese’s COP31 address was full of nice rhetoric, but once again failed to confront or even mention the root cause of the climate crisis — fossil fuels.
“In Antalya, UN climate chief Guterres told leaders to “tell the truth”. The truth is Australia can not credibly talk about its clean energy transition while continuing to expand the industry it needs to leave behind. Australia must reckon with reality; its damning track record of 38 coal and gas approvals since it took office in 2022.
“We meet in Antalya amidst a global energy shock and dire projections of 1.5°C overshoot. Overshoot means something in the Pacific — it means irreversible harm, lives and cultures lost forever, entire nations at stake. We must face the fierce urgency of now.
“Never before has the need to end the fossil fuel chokehold been so abundantly clear, as our Pacific communities again suffer the consequences of a global economy hooked on coal, oil and gas. The Pacific needs credible roadmaps and clear timelines to unhook from fossil fuels — Australia can’t keep saying implementation and not reflect it with credible action.”
ENDS
COP31 images and video available here in Greenpeace Media Library
Media contact: Kate O’Callaghan in Antalya (GMT+3) on +61 406 231 892 (Whatsapp/Signal)
Albanese must deliver credible action to end fossil fuel chokehold, not just rhetoric
A second set of world leaders give their speeches on Thursday before heading out of town and leaving their negotiators to it. After around 40 leaders spoke on Wednesday, today there will be just 25 or so including the UK’s Andy Burnham, Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez and Bangladesh’s Tarique Rahman.
But Brazil’s President Lula is still there and is expected to keep grabbing headlines, along with California’s Governor – and maybe next US president – Gavin Newsom – and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg who has lost none of her star power, if the crowd around her in the press centre was anything to go by.
We’ll bring you highlights through the day on issues ranging from finance to methane, and update you on a pledging event for the Pacific Resilience Facility, which the climate-vulnerable region is relying on to keep small island nations as safe as possible in the face of intensifying storms, drought and sea level rise.
The post COP31 Bulletin Day 4: Burnham speaks with UK climate policy under fire appeared first on Climate Home News.
COP31 Bulletin Day 4: Burnham speaks with UK climate policy under fire
Climate Change
Australia must ‘pull all available levers’ to deliver fossil fuel phase out, following Albanese’s COP31 address
ANTALYA, Türkiye, Wednesday 11 November 2026 — In response to Prime Minister Albanese’s COP31 Leaders’ Summit address, Dr Susie Byers, Head of Advocacy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, speaking from Antalya said:
“Prime Minister Albanese’s Leaders’ Summit address emphasised the power and clarity of Pacific climate leadership and that we must all fight to return warming to below 1.5°C. To inject the momentum these talks critically need, Australia must lead by example.
“Australia takes the reins of the COP31 talks at a critical moment where global instability can spark transformative change, or entrench more of the same inaction and paper pledges. Australia must pull all available levers over the next two weeks, taking the baton from Brazil and sprinting forward.
“The world’s most important job in Antalya is to deliver tangible action to end the fossil fuel era. Communities in Australia, the Pacific and around the world who are grappling with climate disasters and a cost of living crisis need concrete dates and credible plans. We know the transition is coming, one way or another. Our Government has a responsibility to make a plan for this change, which is based on the best available science, and a commitment to put people, energy security and our environment ahead of fossil fuel profits.
“In his address, UN climate chief Guterres told leaders to “tell the truth”. Prime Minister Albanese told an important truth today: that we all have solemn responsibilities to return warming to below 1.5°C. We also know that the best way for Australia to lead through this summit is to start by making its own commitments to turn the temperature down, by stopping developing and exporting fossil fuels.
“Australia’s domestic progress on renewables, and the ‘35 by 35’ electrification goal, are welcome and important. Now we must ensure electricity comes from clean, renewable sources that actually displace fossil fuels and align with the science of 1.5°C.
“The pressure on Australia is building. COP31 must deliver real action to advance multilateral climate cooperation, accelerate the just transition away from fossil fuels, and advance Pacific priorities — including significantly scaling-up climate finance and keeping 1.5°C alive.”
ENDS
COP31 images and video available here in Greenpeace Media Library
Media contact: Kate O’Callaghan in Antalya (GMT+3) on +61 406 231 892 (Whatsapp/Signal)
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