The Department of Climate Change Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has unveiled the latest Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory report.
The Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: March 2025 report show emissions were 440.2Mt CO2-e in the year to March 2025. This is a decrease of 1.4 per cent (6.5Mt CO2-e) compared with the previous year. At the sector level, year-on-year changes include:
- Emissions from stationary energy (excluding electricity) decreased by 2.7 per cent or 2.7Mt CO2-e. This reflects decreased combustion activity during the period
- Emissions from industrial processes and product use decreased by 4.7per cent (1.5Mt CO2-e). This was due to technology and production changes in the chemicals and metals sectors
- Fugitive emissions fell by 2.2 per cent (1.0 Mt CO2-e). This was driven by new carbon capture and storage activities and reduced production form both surface and underground mines
- Agricultural emissions decreased by 1.3 per cent (1.0Mt CO2-e). This was mainly due to lower grazing cattle and sheep numbers
- Emissions from electricity decreased by 0.5 per cent (0.8Mt CO2-e). This reflects record renewables generation and the ongoing displacement of coal
- Transport emissions rose by 0.5 per cent; 0.5Mt CO2-e. This increase was mainly due to increased consumption of road diesel and domestic aviation fuel.
- Emissions in the year to March 2025 were 28.1 per cent below June 2005 levels (the base year for Australia’s 43 per cent reduction by 2030 target under the Paris Agreement).
In response to this new new emissions data the Australian Conservation Foundation Climate and Energy Program Manager, Gavan McFadzean, said this is what happens when you set an economy-wide target to cut emissions – it sends a signal that the market responds to.
“Countries that set ambitious targets tend to increase the speed of their emissions cuts,” he said.
“High emissions economies like Australia will be left behind in the rapidly growing clean energy trade unless we have a strong 2035 target and the net-zero plan to get there.
“A strong science based 2035 emissions reduction target will keep Australians safer from the impacts of climate change and send a market signal that encourages investment in the clean energy tech and manufacturing industries to transition our domestic economy and exports.
“As an economy with large mining, nature-based tourism and agricultural sectors, Australia’s economy is especially vulnerable to the economic shocks caused by extreme weather events.
“Continuing on a linear, business-as-usual trajectory will condemn Australians – including Australian industry – to a world of rolling climate disasters.
“While there is much we don’t know about what the world will be like in 2035, we do know the damage from climate change will continue to accelerate.
“The challenges of rapidly shifting to an economy powered by clean energy are nothing compared with the challenges of living in a world that is 3°C hotter.
“To give Australians and our environment the best chance of holding global warming at the safest levels now possible, Australia really should aim for net zero by 2035, but no less than 80 per cent.
“Modelling by Climateworks shows the sum total of State and Territory 2035 targets and climate policies puts Australia already on track to achieve at least 71 per cent by 2035.
“The wellbeing, livelihoods and security of Australian communities and the ecosystems upon which we depend, rest on the action we take to tackle the climate crisis.”
