Scientists warn backing fossil fuel projects like Woodside's Scarborough will make meeting climate targets more difficult

As the Australian government grapples with a short-term fix to the energy crisis, climate scientists are warning against long-term fossil fuel projects that will exacerbate the climate crisis. Key points: The International Energy Agency warned investments in fossil fuels had to cease in order for climate goals to be met by 2050 Bill Hare says the Labor government will struggle to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 if projects like Woodside's Scarborough go ahead Woodside is also looking at kickstarting development in the Browse gas field due to high demand The Albanese government has thrown its support behind Woodside Energy's $16 billion Scarborough gas project, which cleared major state and Commonwealth regulatory hurdles before the federal election. At last month's annual general meeting, Ms O'Neill said the energy crisis had strengthened the case for developing the Browse gas field – which is even bigger than Scarborough. Fossil fuel projects 'can't fix today's energy problems' Alex Hillman, who worked as an engineer and lobbyist at Woodside for more than eight years and now works for the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, said big new fossil fuel projects would not fix today's energy problems but would exacerbate the climate crisis. "But building major fossil fuel projects takes years, so they can't fix today's energy problems.