Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 0.6 percent in the year to March this year.
The latest Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory showed emissions were 440.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e).
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said this was a decrease of 0.6 percent, or 2.7 Mt CO2-e, compared with the previous year.
Minister Bowen said the change in emissions over the year to March reflected movements across sectors, including:
- Reductions in electricity emissions (down 1.7 percent), as renewable energy uptake continued to displace fossil fuel generation.
- Decreased fugitive emissions (down 1.7 percent), reflecting a fall in underground coal production and reductions in emissions primarily from natural gas venting and flaring.
- Decreased emissions in stationary energy (excluding electricity) (down 0.9 percent), reflecting decreased combustion activity.
- Decreased emissions from agriculture (down 0.7 percent) with the decrease in crop production partially offset by increased livestock emissions.
- Increased transport emissions (up 2.6 percent), reflecting the continuing recovery from COVID-related movement restrictions.
The report showed emissions in the year to March 2024 were 28.2 percent below June 2005 levels, the base year for Australia’s 43 percent reduction by 2030 target under the Pari Agreement.
Minister Bowen said emissions in the March 2024 quarter were impacted by warmer than average temperatures leading to increased electricity demand, while the amount of renewable energy increased to reduce the emissions-intensity of electricity generation.
