Back again to Woodside’s annual general meeting at Crown Perth now,and in a historical motion its shareholders have just voted to reject the oil and gas giant’s energy transition plan,signalling a growing intolerance for the impact its emissions are having on climate change.
As hundreds of protesters rallied outside,58 per cent of shareholders voted against the climate plan.
Chair Richard Goyder said he was “naturally disappointed” but that he expected the result after last year’s plan only just got over the line with 51 per cent of the vote.
However,he claimed the company’s approach to its energy transition was dynamic.
“We would love to be investing more money in new energy right now if we only had the customers,” he said.
Goyder has had 80 meetings in the past year with stakeholders to try and sell the company’s transition plan. The vote is non-binding and advisory,but a huge blow to Woodside’s attempt to be portrayed as a positive force in the transition of the energy sector to net-zero emissions.
Speaking at a separate press conference,Federal Member for Fremantle,Josh Wilson,said he expected companies to adjust their operations to meet the government’s emission targets.
“Woodside is a big player,so what they do matters and I think they’ve made commitments that they should be held to,their shareholders obviously want that and that’s appropriate,” he said.