PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Australia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell by two-million tonnes, or 0.4%, in the year to December 2022, compared with the same period in 2021, new government data showed.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said this week that in the year to December 2022, emissions totalled 463.9-million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, with Australia’s GHG emissions now at 24.7% below June 2005 levels.
Emissions from electricity were down 3.5%, or 5.5-million tonnes, driven by record levels of rooftop solar generation in the National Electricity Market.
Bowen said the latest inventory results showed progress in reducing emissions, but reinforced the need for the government's strong action on climate change and crucial policy reforms.
“Our legislated emissions reduction target, Rewiring the Nation plan and landmark Capacity Investment Scheme to drive investment in cleaner, cheaper energy is working but we have much more to do.
“Reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism, developing Australia’s offshore wind and hydrogen industries, and increasing the uptake of cleaner-cheaper energy to run cars will help ensure we are on track to reach 43% emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050,” said Bowen.