Greenhouse gas emissions
Kelvin Say (2024) - "Greenhouse gas emissions - Australia". Published online at OpenEnergyTracker.org. Retrieved from: 'https://openenergytracker.org/en/docs/australia/emissions/' [Online Resource]
Sectoral greenhouse gas emissions
The federal government has committed to climate neutrality in 2050 via an interim greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target of 43% by 2030 (based on 2005 levels). In addition, state governments have introduced further GHG reduction targets. Current plans rely heavily on the electricity sector to achieve significant GHG emission reductions by 2030.
Another factor to consider is land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) which accounts for the net impact of human activities on the effectiveness of terrestrial land sinks to absorb greenhouse gases. If we only consider Australia's sectoral GHG emissions without these terrestrial land sinks (i.e. without LULUCF) then much a faster emissions reduction trajectory is needed to meet the interim target.
At its current trajectory, Australia needs to further accelerate its rate of emissions reduction in order to meet its interim emissions reduction target of 43% by 2030.
Source: Commonwealth of Australia
CO2 emissions of electricity generation
Most of Australia's reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to date have relied on the increasing share of renewable generation in the power sector. As more fossil fuel generators exit the energy market, the emissions intensity of electricity generation should continue to decrease. The emissions intensity is the average quantity of greenhouse gas equivalent (CO2e) emitted per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Given the National Electricity Market manages 90% of Australia's electricity generation, its Step Change scenario is extrapolated to provide a national perspective on electricity sector emissions.
Source: Commonwealth of Australia; AEMO