Australian Climate Emissions Increasing Despite International Climate Agreements

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Australia’s greenhouse gas emission levels have increased 1.3% according to recently released government figures.

At the same time as the world is coming off a month-long celebration following the successful signing of a climate agreement in Paris, new analysis conducted on government figures by industry analysts Reputex has shown that Australia’s greenhouse emission levels increased 0.8% in the period 2014-2015, reaching 537.0Mt — which increases to 1.3% when Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUF) are included.

Percentage change in Australian fiscal year emissions (2005-06 to 2014-15)

Reputex-1

As can be seen, this is the first increase in emissions since the country reached its historic peak in 2005-06.

Reputex lays the blame for the emissions at the feet of the electricity sector, which increased emissions by 5.3 Mt, or 2.9%, as brown and black coal generation continued to increase its share of the country’s overall energy mix. Adding its own weight to the overall increase was an increase in land-use emissions, growing by 3.1 Mt, or 33%, thanks to increased land clearing in Queensland.

The Australian Government is on board with these emissions growth as well, having already noted in its long-term outlook that Australia’s emissions growth is projected to continue through to 2020, increasing 6%. Specifically, the Australian Government is predicting an 18 Mt or 19% increase in direct combustion and 8 Mt or 21% increase in fugitive emissions by between 2015 and 2020.

Australia’s increasing emissions are not particularly surprising, given the country’s poor energy and environment policies of the last several years. In particular, as shown below, Australia ranks as one of only a handful of countries not expecting to minimize its emissions.

Percentage change in emissions projections 2000-2020 (reporting large Annex 1 countries/regions)

Reputex-2


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Joshua S Hill

I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.

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