Figures reveal trend of increasing emissions since the carbon tax was repealed in 2014 and cast doubt on whether Australia can meet cuts in Paris agreement

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are rising to the highest figures seen in years, according to official government figures, increasing 1.6% in the last quarter and 1% in the past year.

The country’s emissions in the year to March 2017 are the highest on record at 550.3m tonnes of CO 2 equivalent when emissions from land use change are excluded – a sector where the government says its figures have a high degree of uncertainty.

The country’s emissions rose by 1.6m tonnes in the quarter to March 2017, or by 1.1% – a figure that is the same whether estimations of land use emissions are taken into account or not.

After adjusting for seasonal effects, the department of environment and energy says the rise amounts to a 1.6% rise in the quarter.



The rise is particularly striking given emissions almost always drop in the March quarter. The only other March rise was more than a decade ago and by 0.4m tonnes.

The figures reveal a clear trend of increasing greenhouse gas emissions since the carbon tax was repealed in 2014 – a trend that runs counter to Australia’s international commitments.

Superimposed on promised cuts to emissions made after the Paris climate agreement, Australia appears to be moving further away from being able to meet them – a trend that was predicted by the government’s own projections earlier in the year, which found emissions would continue to rise for decades to come.



Minister for the environment and energy Josh Frydenberg said on twitter that the figures showed good news about electricity emissions.



Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) Why didn't @Mark_Butler_MP tweet the good news about falling emissions in the electricity sector? pic.twitter.com/5YZvAeyve7

But while electricity emissions have been falling over the past decade, the latest figures show a sharp and unseasonable rise in emissions from the electricity sector. March 2017 saw the steepest rise in emissions from the electricity on record for that quarter, rising by 4.3m tonnes of CO 2 compared to the December quarter.

Labor spokesman for climate change and energy Mark Butler said he wasn’t surprised to see the rise in emissions.

“Under the Liberal Government emissions have increased by 6%. Whilst under the last Labor Government emissions were reduced by 10%,” he said.

“1.6% is a huge rate of growth. If it is repeated for 4 quarters, it would represent over 6.6% growth in one year alone.”

“This dramatic increase is no wonder given this government has failed to produce any policy to reduce emissions in the transport, electricity, industrial and agriculture sectors.”



Frydenberg responded with the following statement. “Australia has a strong track record in meeting its international obligations in regards to emissions reduction. Official figures show Australia beat its first Kyoto protocol emissions target and is on target to beat its 2020 emissions reduction target by 224m tonnes. Australia’s emissions per capita and emissions per unit of GDP are at their lowest level in 27 years. Importantly emissions in the electricity sector have continued to fall, including 0.6% (trend) in the March quarter and 1.1% (trend) in the December quarter.”

Australia pledged to increase its emissions at Kyoto and is meeting its 2020 emissions targets using an accounting measure, where it could “carry over” the amount it overshoots its Kyoto targets, allowing it to increase its emissions again.