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Australia's carbon emissions not to peak until after 2030: study

Xinhua, February 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australia's carbon emissions are unlikely to peak until after 2030 despite a commitment to cut its 2005 greenhouse gas level by up to 28 percent over the next 15 years, according to a study out on Monday.

An independent probe into government emissions data by carbon consultancy firm RepuTex has found that Australia's greenhouse emissions growth rate could become one of the worst in the developed world by 2020 if it continues on current trends.

The latest federal government data on emissions indicated an increase of 1.3 percent in greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere during 2014-15, largely due to the production and refining of brown coal after the nation's controversial carbon tax was repealed in 2013.

RepuTex also found that Australia's emissions were on track for a further 6 percent increase up to 2020.

Despite the data released by RepuTex, the company's executive director Hugh Grossman said the government would maintain a facade of action due to the fact it will meet its 2020 emissions goal by relying on "carry over" carbon credits it received for meeting an earlier target under the Kyoto Protocol.

He said Australia bucked the trend of relinquishing the carry over credits in pursuit of new carbon emission goals decided on at the Paris climate conference. Five countries - including Germany, Britain and Denmark -announced they would cancel their credits rather than use them to meet future targets.

"Meeting Australia's abatement task is largely just a victory in accounting terms," Grossman said.

"We have met our target, but we used a credit to get there, so it's not a sign of any progress to reduce emissions."

Despite the report, a spokesperson for federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt slammed the data, bringing into doubt the legitimacy of RepuTex's claims. The spokesperson said RepuTex has previously been wrong about Australia's projected emissions numbers.

The Environment Department added that the 2014-15 figure was the second lowest in the past 15 years, even lower when worked out per capita - incorporating Australia's population growth - it was the lowest in some time. Endit