National Greenhouse Accounts released by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency show carbon pollution is continuing to rise, highlighting the need for action on climate change.

 

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, said the National Greenhouse Accounts show Australia’s carbon pollution (excluding emissions from land use, land use change and forestry activities) increased 0.5 per cent to 543 million tonnes in the year to December 2010. This follows a clear trend of long-term growth in Australia’s carbon pollution levels since 1990.

 

Australia has formally submitted the latest National Greenhouse Accounts to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), showing that Australia’s carbon pollution levels for 2009 are at 103 per cent of their 1990 levels.

 

Australia’s Kyoto target is to limit carbon pollution in the 2008-2012 period to 108 per cent of 1990 levels.

 

"Despite a temporary, short-term dip in carbon pollution as a result of reduced demand for Australian goods following the Global Financial Crisis, significant challenges remain in all sectors to reduce our carbon pollution into the future," Mr Combet said.

 

"For example, the increase in carbon pollution from the energy sector between 1990 and 2010 was 44 per cent. This significant source, which comprises pollution from stationary energy, transport and fugitive emissions from fuels, makes up around three-quarters of Australia’s total levels of carbon pollution," he said.

 

"What this demonstrates is the importance of taking action on climate change, in order to cut our carbon pollution and drive investment in a clean energy future. The Government remains committed to the introduction of a carbon price to transform our economy and position Australia to compete in a carbon constrained world."

 

Australia’s latest National Greenhouse Accounts include four annual reports:

  • National Inventory Report 2009, (submission under the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol)
  • National Greenhouse Gas Inventory December Quarter 2010
  • National Inventory by Economic Sector 2009
  • State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2009

The reports are available through the Department's website at Australia's Emissions.