Greenhouse Gas emissions fell 0.3 per cent in the year to September 2019 according to the latest figures released by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
The report Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: September 2019 found that Australia’s emissions were now 13 per cent below emissions in 2005 – the baseline year for the Paris Agreement.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor said that while the Australian economy was “steadily decarbonising”, growth in the exports sector was putting upward pressure on emissions.
Mr Taylor said emissions generated by exports had increased 54 per cent on 2005 levels and now accounted for 39.1 per cent of Australia’s total emissions.
“Despite this upward pressure, emissions per capita and the emissions intensity of the economy continue to fall and are at their lowest levels in nearly three decades,” Mr Taylor said.
He said emissions related to Liquefied Natural Gas production increased by 16.9 per cent or 6.3 Mt CO2-e in the year to September 2019.
“Our LNG exports are reducing global emissions by displacing more emissions-intensive fuels overseas,” he said.
The report also found that in the year to September 2019, emissions per capita had fallen 40.4 per cent compared to 1990, while the “emissions intensity of the economy” had dropped by 62.7 per cent.
Figures contained in the report revealed emissions from electricity generation fell for a third year in a row, down two per cent, while during the December Quarter of 2019, emissions in the National Electricity Market fell to their lowest level since records began in 2001.
The Department’s 45-page quarterly report can be accessed at this PS News link.
