Despite the intense political debate on the issue of climate change Australia remains on track to meet its United Nations Kyoto Protocol target for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2007, then Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd committed Australia to limiting emissions to 108 per cent of 1990 levels on average over the period 2008-2012.
AAP Newsagency reports the latest national greenhouse accounts, just released by the Environment Department, show Australia averaged 105 per cent over the first four years and preliminary figures for 2011/12 showed similar levels to 2010/11.
The report also showed no rise in overall emissions in the year to March, despite growth in gross domestic product (GDP).
AAP reports the main factor behind total emissions flat lining was a drop in emissions from the electricity sector, down 6.1 per cent over the year to March, which included eight months of the carbon price legislation’s operation.
The new conservative Liberal-National government is moving to repeal the carbon price laws introduced by the previous Labor government.
AAP reports the effect of the carbon price was offset by a rise in fugitive emissions, which occur during the production and processing of fossil fuels, and emissions from stationery energy such as combustion of fuels by industry.
Australia’s Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the fact that emissions had not fallen in the first year of the carbon price showed why it should be abolished.
He said to “make the situation worse” domestic emissions were projected to rise to 637 million tonnes in 2020 under the carbon price, up from an average of 575 million tonnes over the past four years.
Australian Greens Party leader Senator Christine Milne said the report showed the carbon price was working, as emissions had stayed the same while the economy grew.
“Australians are reducing the amount of power they use and increasingly turning to renewable energy. This is a great outcome,” Senator Milne said.
“The heavy lifting has been done by the carbon price, and now is not the time to abandon what is working,” she added.
