Elaine Johnson

Elaine Johnson

@elainejohnson.bsky.social

Australian Environmental Lawyer working for a rapid energy transition where the rights of people and nature are protected #ClimateCrisis #LandDefenders #OceanDefenders www.JohnsonLegal.au

4.4K followers1.5K following246 posts

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Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

What a day! Our clients Wendy and Tony have just won the first ever climate case to be heard by Australia’s highest court! Such a privilege to have been able to represent them in this landmark case, which will reverberate around the world. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comHunter Valley community group wins landmark high court climate change case over Mount Pleasant coalmineRuling on Mount Pleasant coalmine shows ‘we cannot continue to dig up coal … and pretend the consequences have nothing to do with us’, group says

Elaine Johnson reposted

David Perry
@dwjperry.bsky.social

jfc, 7.8 tonnes of methane an hour! Roughly the same as the grid emissions for half a million homes.

Elaine Johnson@elainejohnson.bsky.social

“After days of confusion, the West Australian government has confirmed it is now actively investigating repeated large methane emissions from Chevron's Gorgon gas project off the state's Pilbara coast.” www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

abc.net.auAfter days of delay, state regulators confirm probe into methane plume at ChevronDispelling its initial uncertainty, the WA government has confirmed an investigation is underway into repeated large methane emissions from Chevron's Gorgon gas complex.
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

“After days of confusion, the West Australian government has confirmed it is now actively investigating repeated large methane emissions from Chevron's Gorgon gas project off the state's Pilbara coast.” www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

abc.net.auAfter days of delay, state regulators confirm probe into methane plume at ChevronDispelling its initial uncertainty, the WA government has confirmed an investigation is underway into repeated large methane emissions from Chevron's Gorgon gas complex.
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

It’s really a catastrophic failure of our regulatory agencies. Once again looks like it will be left to the public to take action.

Bill Bovingdon@williambovingdon.substack.com

“National Environmental Protection Agency were referred back to state regulators because methane falls outside Gorgon's federal approval. The WA government said it was unclear of its role in managing the potential leak.” You couldn’t make this up

Elaine Johnson reposted

Bill Bovingdon
@williambovingdon.substack.com

“National Environmental Protection Agency were referred back to state regulators because methane falls outside Gorgon's federal approval. The WA government said it was unclear of its role in managing the potential leak.” You couldn’t make this up

Elaine Johnson@elainejohnson.bsky.social

This is extremely concerning … www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10...

abc.net.auUN sends warning as satellite detects greenhouse gas plumes over Gorgon plantSatellite monitoring has detected huge plumes of methane above one of Australia's largest gas complexes, triggering a United Nations alert and enquiries by state authorities.

Elaine Johnson reposted

Prof Helen Bostock
@oceanhelen.bsky.social

Replying to @elainejohnson.bsky.social

Great work. Hope this puts a hold on more coal and fossil fuel extraction projects in Aus and globally. Climate change knows no country boundaries, so scope 3 emissions need to be considered.

Elaine Johnson reposted

Paul M
@quolltracks.bsky.social

Replying to @elainejohnson.bsky.social

Well done, I know Tony & Wendy, they've been at this for a long time, reckon there might be a little celebration tonight.

Elaine Johnson reposted

Kimberly
@kimbasgarden.bsky.social

Replying to @elainejohnson.bsky.social

Huge congratulations to you, your clients, and the wider DAMSHEG group. Making a difference one case at a time.

Elaine Johnson reposted

Sarah Finch
@sarahfinch.bsky.social

“Today the high court has said what we have always known: we cannot dig up coal, ship it overseas, watch it drive climate change, and then pretend the consequences have nothing to do with us and won’t be felt by us" Well said Wendy! Congratulations to all on this historic victory.

Elaine Johnson@elainejohnson.bsky.social

What a day! Our clients Wendy and Tony have just won the first ever climate case to be heard by Australia’s highest court! Such a privilege to have been able to represent them in this landmark case, which will reverberate around the world. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comHunter Valley community group wins landmark high court climate change case over Mount Pleasant coalmineRuling on Mount Pleasant coalmine shows ‘we cannot continue to dig up coal … and pretend the consequences have nothing to do with us’, group says
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

“Almost $US10 billion of damage was caused by weather events in Australia last year, including Cyclone Alfred and the Victorian bushfires, said Allianz.” How much did the coal and gas industry pay in royalties last year? www.afr.com/policy/energ...

afr.com‘Flash droughts’ on the cards as super El Nino intensifiesOnly two countries experienced greater extreme weather-related economic losses than Australia last year, an annual study of global economic climate risk has found.
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

Join traditional custodian Raelene Cooper online or in person for this important event this Friday, hosted by the Geneva Environment Network www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/events/indig...

genevaenvironmentnetwork.orgIndigenous World Heritage in Danger: 50,000 years of cultural legacy to be erased in Murujuga? | Geneva Rights and Environment Talks 2026This event, organized in the framework of the Geneva Rights and Environment Talks, will provide a space to discuss the situation of Murujuga, and take look at how to protect such a world heritage site...
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

Looking forward to joining the global panel for this exciting event on Wednesday 23 September as part of #NYCW #NewYorkClimateWeek The Evolving Landscape of Clim. Lit.: U.S. and Global Perspectives | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law climate.law.columbia.edu/events/evolv...

climate.law.columbia.eduThe Evolving Landscape of Clim. Lit.: U.S. and Global Perspectives | Sabin Center for Climate Change LawThe Evolving Landscape of Climate Litigation: U.S. and Global Perspectives REGISTER HERE

Elaine Johnson reposted

Hagatha @Hagatha42.bsky.social
@hagatha42.bsky.social

#auspol

Elaine Johnson@elainejohnson.bsky.social

The latest science from the Government and industry funded research program on Murujuga was released today. The report reveals the extent of damage to ancient rock art engravings is worse than previously thought. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...

abc.net.auReport finds rock art damage more extensive than thoughtThe Murujuga Rock Art monitoring program finds pollutants from previous industrial activity have damaged a larger area of ancient rock art on the Burrup Peninsula than previously thought.
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

The latest science from the Government and industry funded research program on Murujuga was released today. The report reveals the extent of damage to ancient rock art engravings is worse than previously thought. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...

abc.net.auReport finds rock art damage more extensive than thoughtThe Murujuga Rock Art monitoring program finds pollutants from previous industrial activity have damaged a larger area of ancient rock art on the Burrup Peninsula than previously thought.

Elaine Johnson reposted

Sean Geoghegan
@sea-geo.bsky.social

Replying to @elainejohnson.bsky.social

Those petroglyphs need to be protected. Humanity needs to maintain reliable authentic connections to its joint prehistory. Destruction of our heritage is unacceptable.

Elaine Johnson reposted

Mark Holsworth, Black Mark
@mholsworth.bsky.social

Latest news about Australia's vandalism of ancient rock art in order to help exploit gas during a climate catastrophe.

Elaine Johnson@elainejohnson.bsky.social

Day one of the legal challenge to Woodside’s massive North West Shelf gas extension has just finished. The hearing will continue tomorrow, with opening submissions from Johnson Legal client Friends of Australian Rock Art Inc. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.comClimate and rock art advocates take on Woodside’s ‘carbon bomb’ WA gas project in federal courtAlbanese government’s approval of North West Shelf gas extension being challenged by the Australian Conservation Foundation and Friends of Australian Rock Art
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

After 4 days in the Federal Court, the challenges against Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension have wrapped up Johnson Legal client Friends of Australian Rock Art await judgment, alongside the Australian Conservation Foundation FARA’s state case begins in November chuffed.org/project/1358...

chuffed.orgSupport Our Legal Challenges to the North West Shelf extensionWe’re taking the government to court over Woodside’s destructive and damaging gas project!
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

The gas plant sits in the middle of the ancient Murujuga rock art landscape. Federal approval to extend operations out to 2070 will cause serious and irreversible harm to the rock art as the images fade due to industrial emissions from Woodside’s gas plant. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...

abc.net.auHere's what you need to know about Woodside's Federal Court caseFour days in, the Federal Court has scrutinised the decision to extend Australia's biggest gas project another 40 years, amid fears for Indigenous heritage and climate impacts.
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

Starting the final day of hearings into Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension out to 2070. Johnson Legal is proud to represent Friends of Australian Rock Art who say that the Minister ignored economic detriments and failed to act protect the ancient Murujuga rock art chuffed.org/project/1358...

chuffed.orgSupport Our Legal Challenges to the North West Shelf extensionWe’re taking the government to court over Woodside’s destructive and damaging gas project!
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

Woodside’s gas plant sits in the middle of the World Heritage listed Murujuga site, which holds over a million petroglyphs including the first known depiction of the human face. Industrial emissions from the gas plant are eroding the surfaces of the petroglyphs causing the artwork to disappear.

youtube.comyoutube.com
Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

FARA says when approving the extension to process gas out to 2070, the Minister failed to consider the economic disbenefits of the project. FARA also argues the approval was inconsistent with national heritage management principles designed to protect the ancient Murujuga rock art landscape.

Elaine Johnson
@elainejohnson.bsky.social

Woodside’s gas plant sits in the middle of the ancient Murujuga rock art. Murujuga contains over a million petroglyphs up to 50,000 years old and includes the first known depiction of the human face.