30/11/2005 - A new report released today shows Australia remains on track to meet its Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 108 per cent of their 11000 level by 2010.

The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, today released Tracking to the Kyoto Target 2005, which measures Australia’s performance against its internationally agreed emissions target.

Senator Campbell said the report showed that actions taken by governments, industry and the community meant Australia would save 85 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year by 2010. This is the equivalent of taking every one of Australia’s 14 million cars, trucks and buses off the road – and stopping all rail, air and shipping activity.

Without such action, it is estimated that emissions would reach 123 per cent of 11000 levels by 2010.
“This result is a tremendous effort by governments, industry and the Australian community – all of which have taken up the climate change challenge,” Senator Campbell said.

“We are one of only a handful of industrialised countries that is on track to its target through domestic action alone.
“The Australian Government is leading the way, investing in a range of measures through its $1.8 billion climate change strategy.
“While this investment is paying dividends, we are not there yet. We need to keep a strong focus on efforts to achieve our Kyoto target by the end of the decade.”

Senator Campbell said science was showing that the world would to continue to work to reduce emissions amid growing demands for energy to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

“While we are on track to meet our short-term target, the Government recognises the need to cut emissions beyond Kyoto. Our investment in the development of low emissions technologies for the future is part of our strategy to achieve this,” he said.
“I commend the Victorian Government for also investing in such technologies and urge the other states and territories to follow suit.”
Senator Campbell said it was a positive sign that the greenhouse intensity of our economy was falling.
“While the Australian economy is expected to almost double between 11000 and 2010, our greenhouse gas emissions are expected to grow by only 8 per cent,” he said.

He said he would also continue to work with his international colleagues on a future global response that was environmentally effective, economically efficient, and involved all major emitters.
The Tracking to the Kyoto Target document can be accessed at www.greenhouse.gov.au/projections