EnergyAustralia denies claims made in greenwashing case
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: EnergyAustralia has filed its defence in a civil claim that accuses the energy and gas provider of using carbon credits to greenwash product offerings. Climate advocacy group Australian Parents for Climate Action, or AP4CA, has launched Federal Court action alleging EA's 'Go Neutral' product misleads consumers because the company still relies on fossil fuel production, despite deploying carbon offsets.
The numbers: EnergyAustralia's plan to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 includes the closure of its Victorian Yallourn coal-fired power station by 2028, working with other groups to deliver 3 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030 and contributing with partners to $5 billion in capital towards renewable energy and storage. EnergyAustralia was Australia's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in 2022, according to Clean Energy Regulator data.
The context: In August, AP4CA launched Federal Court action against the energy provider, alleging that calculating household energy use emissions and purchasing equivalent carbon offsets is not carbon neutral, because the energy used still comes from fossil fuels.
What they said: "Our defence in the AP4CA civil case highlights our products are based on well-established schemes and our website provides detailed information to allow consumers to make informed choices," EnergyAustralia chief customer officer Mark Brownfield said in a statement.
"We deny the claims made by AP4CA that we have misled consumers, and we are disappointed to have been singled out for our genuine efforts to engage our customers in the energy transition."
The sources: Capital Brief, Clean Energy Regulator, EnergyAustralia media release
