Other environmental groups slammed the Australian government for failing to cut greenhouse emissions and abetting the collapse of the climate talks in The Hague. Six Greenpeace activists entered the Stuart shale oil plant on the mid-Queensland coast before dawn.
Evidence shows that ecosystems are already being affected by climate change.
A company spokeswoman confirmed the protest but noted the project, being developed by Southern Pacific Petroleum NL and Central Pacific Minerals NL, was still in the commissioning state. She said the plant was preparing for a trial production run this week. A dispute between the European Union and the United States over how to curb greenhouse gases caused a two-week U.N. climate conference in The Hague to collapse on Saturday. The collapse left the fight against global warming in disarray. Australia backed Washington, arguing its plains of mallee scrub should be regarded as carbon sinks.