The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) has issued a new report revealing Australia on track to meet its 2030 Paris target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Department said the report, Australia’s emissions projections 2020, showed Australia was on track to beat its 2030 target (26 to 28 per cent below 2005 emissions levels) by 403 million tonnes, including 459 million tonnes of past overachievement.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor said that over the last two years, Australia’s 2030 position had improved by 639 million tonnes, 13.2 per cent of the emissions budget.
“This is equivalent to taking all of Australia’s 14.7 million cars off the road for 15 years,” Mr Taylor said.
“We have a clear plan to meet and beat our 2030 target and the updated projections reflect Australia’s strong performance,” he said.
Mr Taylor said the improvement over the past two years was largely due to the $5.3 billion allocation to new emissions reduction measures.
“Australia’s world-leading adoption of renewables is also driving down emissions,” the Minister said.
“On a per person basis, Australia is deploying renewables 25 per cent faster than Europe’s four largest economies combined – Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy – and 10 times faster than the global average,” he said.
Mr Taylor said COVID-19 related restrictions had a short, historic impact on emissions, with the projected impact of the pandemic on future emissions largely limited to an acceleration of pre-existing trends.
The Department’s 74-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
