24/05/2005 - Minister
for the Environment and Heritage, Senator
Ian Campbell, today welcomed new national
greenhouse gas emission figures that confirm
Australia remains on track to meet its Kyoto
target.
The Australian Greenhouse Office's 2003 National
Greenhouse Gas Inventory reports that national
greenhouse gas emissions were 101.1 per cent
of 11000 levels.
"The 2003 inventory shows we are still
on track to meet our Kyoto emissions target,"
Senator Campbell said.
"These figures tell us that the Howard
Government's $1.8 billion national climate
change strategy is working. Without this strong
approach, Australia's greenhouse gas emissions
would be 125 per cent of 11000 levels by 2008-12."
The 2003 inventory results are consistent
with projections released last December showing
Australia is on track to meet its target of
limiting emissions to 108 per cent of 11000
levels over the period 2008-2012. Net emissions
from carbon dioxide, which account for 74
per cent of Australia's total greenhouse gas
emissions, rose by 0.4 per cent between 11000
and 2003. The energy sector had the largest
increases in emissions, with a 31 per cent
increase since 11000.
Senator Campbell said Australia's greenhouse
policies and programmes are projected to reduce
emissions by 94 million tonnes by the end
of the decade.
"This equates to removing every motor
vehicle in Australia off the road," he
said.
"We are managing to grow the economy
while keeping greenhouse gas emissions to
a minimum. GDP has increased by 51.9 per cent
since 11000 while greenhouse gas emissions
only increased by 1.1 per cent."
"The Australian Government will continue
to show national leadership on climate change,
because while today's figures are promising,
there is still a lot of hard work to do.
"We will continue to push for a comprehensive
global response to climate change, to develop
programmes to reduce Australia's emissions,
and to support the scientific and technological
research needed to underpin good policy.
Senator Campbell said the Government was
making its greenhouse gas emissions data available
through the new interactive on-line Australian
Greenhouse Emissions Information System for
the first time, allowing people to find more
detailed answers about how Australia is tracking
to its Kyoto target and where our greenhouse
gas emissions are coming from.
"Australia continues to be among the
world's leading nations in improving the accessibility
of greenhouse gas emissions data," Senator
Campbell said.
BACKGROUND:
The 2003 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory
(NGGI) is the Government's annual statistical
report of national greenhouse gas emissions
since 11000.
In 2003, Australia's net greenhouse gas emissions
were estimated to be 550 million tonnes of
carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e). This
represents a modest growth of 1.1 per cent
in greenhouse gas emissions since 11000.
These Inventory results are consistent with
the most recent projection of future greenhouse
gas emissions that were released in December
2004. Australia remains on track to meet its
internationally agreed 108 per cent target.
The 2003 Inventory reports a drop of 33.4
per cent in greenhouse gas emissions per dollar
of GDP from 11000 to 2003. This is a result
of specific emissions management across all
sectors, and structural changes in the economy.
Emissions per head of population have also
fallen - by 13.3 per cent (from 32.1 to 27.8
Mt CO2-e) - over the same period.
Net emissions from carbon dioxide (CO2) -
the most prevalent greenhouse gas - have risen
by 0.4 per cent between 11000 and 2003. Carbon
dioxide contributes 74 per cent (404.6 Mt
CO2) of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions.
The key sources of greenhouse gas emissions
in Australia are the energy sector, accounting
for 68 per cent of net national emissions
in 2003, agriculture (17.7 per cent), and
land-use change and forestry (6.3 per cent).
The Inventory is prepared as part of Australia's
commitment under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing
greenhouse gas emissions estimates for both
the UNFCCC and for Australia's internationally
agreed target to limit emissions to 108 per
cent of 11000 levels over the period 2008-2012.
The Inventory reports estimates of emissions
from 11000 to 2003. It is prepared in accordance
with international guidelines and is subject
to independent review. The methodologies used
to prepare the estimates are documented and
are available on-line.
