The federal government has released new data that suggests the Morrison government is on track to meet the emissions reduction target it set at the Paris climate conference, but only by including an accounting loophole.

The emissions projections report suggests Australia will better its 2030 emissions target, a 26%-28% cut below 2005 levels, by 16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Emissions are expected to be about 16% lower than 2005 by 2030 but the government plans to use controversial “carryover credits” from the Kyoto protocol.

Carryover credits are an accounting measure that allows countries to count emissions cuts from exceeding previous targets against future targets. They were allowed under the soon-to-be-obsolete Kyoto protocol, but are not mentioned in the Paris agreement.

Australia is the only country planning to use them under the Paris deal. The plan to use them has been criticised by the European Union and Pacific leaders. They say Australia accrued the credits after setting unambitious targets under the Kyoto protocol, including allowing emissions to increase by up to 8% between 1990 and 2012.

The Paris agreement says countries will make national commitments that are more ambitious through time and reflect the “highest possible ambition”.

The emissions projections data has been released as Angus Taylor, the embattled energy and emissions reduction minister, flies to Madrid for the second week of a United Nations climate conference.

Taylor said the improvement from the 2018 projections was primarily a result of the government’s $3.5bn climate solutions package and emissions cuts in the electricity sector. The report suggests the nation will exceed its 2020 target by 411m tonnes, up from the previous estimate of 367m tonnes.

“Our commitment is achievable, balanced and responsible, and is part of coordinated global action to deliver a healthy environment for future generations while keeping our economy strong,” Taylor said in a statement on Saturday.

Taylor is under pressure over a police investigation into the origin of a doctored document he used to attack the lord mayor of Sydney, allegations relating to the clearing of endangered grasslands at a property he and his family part-own and a public clash with American author Naomi Wolf.