In a decision that environmentalists are calling a "death warrant" for the climate, Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended the approval of the Valhalla fracking project, opening the door to a massive expansion of fossil fuel extraction in the pristine Kimberley region.

The regulator's green light for Bennett Resources, a subsidiary of the US-based Black Mountain Energy, to drill 20 wells in the Canning Basin has sparked immediate fury. Critics argue that this is not just a local project; it is a planetary hazard that could add up to 2.6% to Australia’s entire national greenhouse gas emissions.

Pristine Wilderness at Risk

The Kimberley is one of the world's last great wildernesses, a landscape of ancient gorges, tropical savannahs, and the mighty Martuwarra Fitzroy River. The EPA’s decision to allow hydraulic fracturing here is being viewed as a betrayal of both the environment and the Traditional Owners who have fought for decades to protect their Country.

"This is outrageous," said Sophie McNeill, the Greens’ fossil fuels spokesperson. "The community is overwhelmingly opposed to fracking. We are talking about risking a $500 million tourism industry and an irreplaceable ecosystem for the profit of a Texan billionaire."

• The Climate Math: The numbers are damning. Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare estimates the project’s emissions will be catastrophic. In an era where the world is struggling to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, opening a new gas basin is akin to pouring petrol on a house fire.
• The Political Fallout: The decision puts the WA Labor government in the crosshairs. Having previously announced a moratorium on fracking in 98% of the state, this approval in the remaining 2% feels like a cynical loophole. It sets the stage for a bruising battle in the lead-up to the next election.

A Dangerous Precedent

The Valhalla project is seen as the "thin end of the wedge." If allowed to proceed, it could pave the way for thousands of wells across the Canning Basin, turning one of Australia’s most iconic landscapes into an industrial gas field.

The EPA has attached conditions to the approval, but for opponents, there is no "safe" way to frack the Kimberley. The fight now moves to the Environment Minister's desk, with activists vowing to launch the biggest environmental campaign since the fight for the Franklin River. The message is simple: the gas must stay in the ground.