The Coalition Government has released the Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, with the report finding emissions rose 3.5 Mt CO2-e in December 2018.
The findings stated that emissions were up 0.7 per cent on the previous year.
The Coalition maintained that while emissions increases from the rapid growth of LNG exports are included in Australia’s emissions in the report, the success of this industry means that it has potentially reduced global emissions by up to 27 per cent of Australia’s annual emissions in the year to December 2018.
Strong growth in Australia’s emissions intensive traded commodities more than accounted for this outcome, including growth in LNG exports (3.5 Mt CO2-e), steel production and aluminium exports (0.9 MT CO2-e).
Australia’s total LNG exports have the potential to lower emissions in importing countries by around 148 Mt CO2-e in 2018 by displacing coal consumption in those countries.
Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister, Angus Taylor, said this is a substantial global contribution to be proud of.
“The Morrison Government is not going to trash successful Australian export industries that are reducing global emissions, in order to reduce Australian emissions.”
The report also highlighted the fact that emissions per capita and the emissions intensity of the economy were at their lowest levels in 29 years.
Emissions per capita in the year to December 2018 have fallen 38.2 per cent since 1990, while the emissions intensity of the economy has fallen 61.4 per cent.
The report also showed that national emissions were 14.2 per cent below the peak recorded in the year to June 2007 and 11.9 per cent below emissions in 2005 (the baseline year for the Paris agreement).
The full report can be found here.
