2002 STATE AND TERRITORY GREENHOUSE GAS INVETORIES

21/06/2005 - State and territory governments will be better able to plan their response to climate change with the release today of annual state and territory greenhouse gas inventories.
Releasing the 2002 State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, said the set of inventories was the first of what would become an annual series to be produced by the Australian Greenhouse Office.
“The state and territory inventories complement the national greenhouse gas inventory and provide a comprehensive information base with which to underpin climate change policy making,” Senator Campbell said.
“These new inventories highlight the diverse range of circumstances of the individual States and Territories.
“Under our federal system of government, the states have a key role in setting policies and determining investment in energy production, transport and land management, all of which are important factors in Australia’s greenhouse response.
“Policy in these areas of responsibility must be based on good information and the Australian Government is contributing strongly to the knowledge base on climate change through initiatives such as these inventories.”
Senator Campbell said detailed accounting of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions was an important part of the Australian Government’s $1.8 billion national climate change strategy and was essential to Australia meeting its international obligations.
Australia's greenhouse policies and programmes are projected to reduce emissions by 94 million tonnes by 2010 – more than the equivalent of eliminating all transport emissions. The Government’s comprehensive climate change strategy will ensure Australia remains on track to meet its 108 per cent Kyoto emissions target as well as providing a framework for action beyond Kyoto.
“Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions accounting systems are already among the world’s best. The release of these state and territory inventories will help keep Australia at the forefront in providing access to emissions data,” he said.
“The Australian Government will continue working with State and Territory Governments to implement measures responding to climate change.”
These state and territory inventories have been prepared in line with the 2002 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The 2003 national inventory was released last month. The Australian Greenhouse Office will update state/territory inventories in line with the 2003 figures later this year.