Western Australia’s decision to lift gas export ban will drive up emissions, conservationists say

A gas flare at a Woodside North West shelf project. The WA government wants ‘a secure supply of gas as firming fuel in our system’. Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

The Western Australian government has lifted a ban preventing onshore gas producers from exporting any of their gas, a move conservationists say will drive up greenhouse gas emissions.

To encourage more gas development, onshore gas producers in the state will now be allowed to export up to 20% of their gas until 2030, the government announced on Thursday.