Nicole Sommer
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nicolesommer.bsky.social
Nicole Sommer
@nicolesommer.bsky.social
Principal Lawyer, EDO Lawyers. Lawyering for a safe climate and healthy environment. Lutriwita/Tasmania
There's no hope like Defiance

Fantastic to be at the launch of Bob Browns new book 'Defiance' in nipaluna tonight, with the awesome Hannah Maloney.

A lesson for us all on a life of hope and action. Get along to a launch near you 👇
bobbrown.org.au/events/
October 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Succcess in the Federal Court for our clients MLDRIN, in its challenge to a water resource plan in the Murray Darling Basin

The Court has declared the plan invalid, & made orders to protect cultural knowledge

Congratulations to MLDRIN & all First Nations it represents

nit.com.au/29-08-2025/1...
Traditional Owners welcome federal court call on fractured rock water plan
Traditional Owners have welcomed the Federal Court decision ruling on Friday that the NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan is invalid because Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek didn't read it be...
nit.com.au
August 29, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Yesterday, the Federal Court upheld the final Scarborough approval, dismissing our client's legal challenge.

Proud to represent Doctors for the Environment, who with courage took this case to Court in the public interest
We are disappointed to announce that the Federal Court today upheld the government’s approval of the Scarborough Gas Project’s environment plan.

After today’s decision, it is clear that Australia’s offshore gas regulations are failing us.

🧵
August 23, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
We are proud to have put this matter forward and thank the court for its consideration in this matter.
August 23, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
After this decision, it is clear that Australia’s offshore gas regulations are not living up to the broader public interest.

Everybody needs a safe climate for their health & wellbeing, so we all have an interest in the effective regulation of industries that are making our climate more dangerous.
Court knocks back doctors' challenge to Burrup gas project
Facing three separate court challenges in a week, Woodside has had a win with the Federal Court dismissing a challenge by Doctors for the Environment to a gas project on the Burrup Peninsula.
www.abc.net.au
August 23, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
Landmark ICJ advisory opinion still being delivered

We've just heard: "Fossil fuel production, consumption, the granting of FF exploration licences or the provision of fossil fuel subsidies may constitute an internationally wrongful act attributable to that state."

webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1c...
July 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
We are proud to have EDO acting for us! 🙏
July 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Proud that EDO is acting for ACF and Mackay Conservation Group in this significant case

🌱👏👇
July 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
"Coal is all coal"

Today, the Qld Land Court hearing began for the largest new coal mine in Australia - the Winchester South Coal Mine

Proud to be acting for courageous clients ACF + Mackay Conservation Group in this significant case

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Land court hears challenge against proposed $1 billion coal mine
Whitehaven Coal's proposed Winchester South mine is expected to produce up to 17 million tonnes of coal per year and "generate at least 583 million tonnes of climate pollution".
www.abc.net.au
July 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Imagine if we took action in 1977.

At 334ppm.
On this day 48 years ago (July 15, 1977) the New York Times article ran a front page story "Scientists fear heavy use of coal may bring adverse shift in climate"

allouryesterdays.info/2023/07/14/j...
July 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
In Court today: we are representing Doctors for the Environment in their legal challenge to Woodside's Scarborough Operations EP

“We can’t sit by and watch our planet’s health decline when we can do something about it.”
- Dr Kate Wiley, DEA

For more on this case 👇
www.edo.org.au/doctors-take...
Doctors take their climate case to the Federal Court - Environmental Defenders Office
Doctors take their climate case to the Federal Court We’re headed to the Federal Court for the hearing of our client’s critical legal challenge to the final approval for Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Pro...
www.edo.org.au
July 14, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
Footage captured yesterday at Ardrossan, Yorke Peninsula, reveals more underwater impacts of SA's Harmful Algal Bloom.

With neon green water, the seabed was littered with dead and dying animals. There were also hundreds, if not thousands, of garfish on the seabed, some still alive.
July 10, 2025 at 5:41 AM
This new study is shocking

Nano-plastic pollution in our oceans estimated for the first time to contain "at least 27 million metric tons in North Atlantic seas — more than the weight of all wild land mammals"

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/c...
Tons of Invisible Plastic Pieces Lurk in Ocean Water
www.nytimes.com
July 9, 2025 at 11:02 PM
A cracker of a day for a birding adventure

Touring the Channel and Orielton Lagoon with my mate Els for the Annual #PeliCount

I learned that while most Tassie pelicans migrate north for winter to breed, a few stick around. In some beautiful spots!

#ConservationofAustralianSeabirdsAndTurtlesInc
July 6, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
Today, the Federal Court has made orders to protect Doctors for the Environment from adverse costs

This means the Court will hear their challenge to the offshore approval for the Scarborough Gas Project

Proud that EDO is acting for DEA in this important test case 👏

www.edo.org.au/2025/06/06/c...
Costs order enables Doctors for the Environment to run test case on Scarborough Gas Project approval - Environmental Defenders Office
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) has won a Federal Court order that enables it to challenge NOPSEMA’s approval of the Scarborough Gas Project’s environment plan (EP).  The court today made ...
www.edo.org.au
June 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
"What matters here is that those futures manifest depending on the decisions made today.

"We already know about possible futures; the question is, which one are you fighting for?"

www.crikey.com.au/2025/06/02/n...
Forget climate denial, Labor's tactical fatalism will burn us all
The climate movement is ill-equipped to deal with a threat that looks like this. Any fantasy we had of a global moral pact of good intentions is dead.
www.crikey.com.au
June 6, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Today, the Federal Court has made orders to protect Doctors for the Environment from adverse costs

This means the Court will hear their challenge to the offshore approval for the Scarborough Gas Project

Proud that EDO is acting for DEA in this important test case 👏

www.edo.org.au/2025/06/06/c...
Costs order enables Doctors for the Environment to run test case on Scarborough Gas Project approval - Environmental Defenders Office
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) has won a Federal Court order that enables it to challenge NOPSEMA’s approval of the Scarborough Gas Project’s environment plan (EP).  The court today made ...
www.edo.org.au
June 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
'With a fresh election win, a decisive majority, and a new environment minister, will things be different?'

Nice round-up from Prof Justine Bell-James on the future of national nature law reform

www.boilingcold.com.au/can-murray-w...
www.boilingcold.com.au
May 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Breaking: funding for EDOs frontline legal services in Queensland have been cut by the Qld Govt

It will be people of Qld that bear the cost

“Without it, many communities won’t even know their rights, let alone have the chance to exercise them.”

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
LNP to cut all funding for Queensland’s Environmental Defenders Office, breaking election promise
EDO boss says Crisafulli government decision means many ‘won’t even know their rights, let alone have the chance to exercise them’
www.theguardian.com
May 15, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Terrible news today as the Qld Government breaks its promise & cuts our funding

This was front line access to justice funding.

"It's devastating for Queenslanders who will turned away when they're trying to seek legal advice"

More ⬇️

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
May 15, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
DEA v NOPSEMA & Woodside: We are medical doctors concerned about the detrimental effects of climate change on human health. The decision to approve Woodside’s Scarborough Project will unleash a major new source of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the key driver of climate change. (1/2)
May 2, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
Doctors for the Environment Australia is mounting a legal challenge against environmental approvals for Woodside's multi-billion Scarborough project.

Another from me this morning, this time in @reneweconomy.com.au
Doctors say regulator engaged in “box ticking” exercise with Scarborough gas approval
Doctors for the Environment Australia says offshore oil and gas regulator accepted claims by Woodside that gas displaces coal despite its CEO admitting that claim cannot be proven.
reneweconomy.com.au
May 4, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
Just like a patient seeking a second opinion, we are asking the court to review NOPSEMA's decision.

“We’re concerned we have the government regulator ticking a box on an environmental plan for a very large company. We’re the ones holding them to account and we feel compelled to do so”

Read more 👇
Doctors say regulator engaged in “box ticking” exercise with Scarborough gas approval
Doctors for the Environment Australia says offshore oil and gas regulator accepted claims by Woodside that gas displaces coal despite its CEO admitting that claim cannot be proven.
reneweconomy.com.au
May 5, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Reposted by Nicole Sommer
It’s #WorldCurlewDay 💚

So here's 5 things Curlews are better at than you… a thread.

1/7
April 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM