Australia’s energy exports increase global greenhouse emissions, not decrease them

When unveiling government data revealing Australia’s rising greenhouse emissions, federal energy minister Angus Taylor sought to temper the news by pointing out that much of the increase is due to liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, and claiming that these exports help cut emissions elsewhere.

Australia’s LNG exports aren’t as good for the
planet as the government seems to think

LNG exports, Taylor argued, help to reduce global emissions by replacing the burning of coal overseas, which has a higher emissions factor than gas. In reality, Australian gas displaces a mix of energy sources, including gas from other exporters. Whether and to what extent Australian gas exports reduce emissions, therefore, remains unclear. Meanwhile, Australia’s coal exports clearly do increase global emissions.

The way Australia can help clean up world energy systems in the future is through large-scale production and export of renewable energy.

Read the story from The Conversation by Frank Jotzo and Salim Mazouz - “Australia’s energy exports increase global greenhouse emissions, not decrease them."