Emissions cuts ‘off track’

CANBERRA: Australia is well off-track to meet its 2030 emissions target, new figures show.

The latest emissions projections released yesterday by the environment department show Australia is projected to emit 563 megatonnes of climate pollution in 2030.

The lowest point of ambition for Australia’s Paris agreement target — 26 per cent below 2005 levels — is equivalent to 442 Mt in 2030.

While electricity-sector emissions are expected to ease by 34 Mt during the period, the report projected increases in the areas of direct combustion, transport, fugitive emissions, industrial processes and agriculture.

‘‘Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly said Australia will meet its Paris agreement targets in a canter, but the government’s own emissions projections tell a very different story,’’ Australian Conservation Foundation’s Matt Rose said.

Electricity makes up 34 per cent of Australia’s emissions, meaning almost two-thirds comes from other sources.

Environment Minister Melissa Price said the figures showed Australia would beat its 2020 emissions target.

‘‘We have also made significant progress to our 2030 target,’’ she said.

‘‘Since 2008 we have seen a three billion tonne turnaround in the abatement task to achieve our 2030 target and we have seen a 173 Mt, 20 per cent, reduction on last year’s projections.’’

Story from The Shepparton News - “Emissions cuts ‘off track’.”