AUSTRALIA’S carbon pollution levels have increased yet again, rising for a third consecutive year. The Climate Council has labelled the result as ‘shameful’ and ‘embarrassing’, proving the Federal Government is failing to tackle climate change.

The Department of the Environment today partially released the long-awaited six month backlog of climate pollution data, showing a 0.7% rise in greenhouse gas pollution between July 2016 and June 2017. The update of National Greenhouse Gas Inventory data highlights Australia has consistently failed to cut back on its pollution levels.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said while Australia experiences its hottest and driest winter on record, Australia’s pollution was again rising.

“Australia risks cementing its position as the global climate laggard, as the Federal Government sits back and allows the nation’s greenhouse gas pollution levels to climb further and further,” she said.

“The consequences of worsening climate change has already been seen across Australia in 2017 alone in the form of intensifying extreme weather events including supercharged storms, heatwaves and bushfires, along with the repeated bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef.”

“By failing to tackle climate change and getting Australia’s pollution under control, the Government accepting dramatic changes to our climate that will have grave consequences.”

“It is beyond belief that the Federal Government continues to delay and hide such crucial data. How can Australians make informed decisions without having access to all of the necessary information? This is climate censorship.”

Climate Council Head of Research, Dr Martin Rice urged the Federal Government to look to 2018 to get on with the job of seriously and swiftly slashing Australia’s rising pollution levels to tackle climate change.

“The critical window of opportunity to act to tackle climate change is rapidly closing. The Federal Government must act now to protect Australians from worsening extreme weather like heatwaves and bushfires. Cutting pollution is critical,” he said.

“The solution has been made clear for years – Australia must continue the transition to clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy and storage technology to tackle climate change.”

The Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2017 (incorporating September 2017 quarter emissions from the National Electricity Market) is available here.

For more information please contact Senior Communications Advisor Alexia Boland on 0438 972 260.