International science and policy institute Climate Analytics has warned Australia and its fuel exports may be responsible for up to 17 per cent of global carbon emissions by 2030.
Australia could be responsible for up to 17 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions by 2030, according to the new research.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) commissioned the report by Berlin-based science and policy institute Climate Analytics, which has found planned coal and gas expansions could push Australia’s share of emissions higher over the next decade.
Australian coal could be responsible for 12 per cent of global emissions by then.
AAP Newsagency reports the ACF’s Gavan McFadzean said coal and gas were the cause of the “climate crisis”, with Australian the number one exporter of both.
“With planned coal and gas expansions, Australia could account for up to 17 per cent of global emissions by 2030, with Australian coal responsible for 12 per cent of global emissions by then,” said Mr McFadzean.
“When we add Australia’s exported emissions to our domestic emissions, Australia rockets to equal fifth on the list of major global climate polluters, alongside Russia and behind only India, the European Union, the United States and China,” Mr McFadzean said.
“This report confirms Australia is on track to become one of the world’s worst contributors to climate damage,” he told AAP.
Climate Analytics said when emissions from Australia’s current coal, oil and gas exports (3.6 per cent of global total) are added to domestic emissions (1.4 per cent of global total), Australia’s global climate pollution footprint is about five per cent.
AAP reports he called on the conservative Liberal-National federal government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison to keep most of the nation’s fossil fuel reserves in the ground and facilitate a rapid transition to renewable energy.
“Based on government and industry projections, Australia’s domestic and exported gas emissions could account for up to 3.4 per cent of global climate pollution by 2030.”
Australia is continuing to pursue the opening of new coalmines such as the huge Carmichael mine in Queensland owned by India conglomerate Adani, with others proposed in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Western Australia.
Last month, new data from the Department of Environment and Energy revealed Australia’s greenhouse emissions in 2018 had risen for a third consecutive year.
However the federal Emissions Reduction minister Angus Taylor countered the report, saying Australia’s emissions were their lowest in 29 years.
Mr Taylor said Australia was contributing to a reduction in other countries’ coal emissions by exporting LNG which was cleaner than coal.
The LNP government has committed to a $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package to deliver on Australia’s 2030 Paris Agreement climate commitments.
The package includes a $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund encouraging farmers, businesses and Indigenous communities to undertake emissions reductions projects.
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