Australia records biggest annual drop in emissions outside pandemic
The biggest annual drop in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions outside of the Covid-19 pandemic has been driven by record production from renewable energy, which has drawn more coal and gas from the electricity grid.
Albania’s government on Wednesday released official figures showing a 2.2 percent emissions drop in the year to June 30 as proof that its pro-renewable energy policies are working.
Record levels of renewable energy on the power grid are displacing coal and reducing emissions.Credit: Bloomberg
Labor has come under heavy criticism from the Coalition, which earlier this month withdrew its support for Australia’s net-zero emissions target and insisted the government’s climate commitments are unachievable and have failed to cut emissions.
These attacks escalated following a 10-minute partial power outage in Parliament House on Wednesday during questioning, which led to Coalition laughter at Energy Minister Chris Bowen.
But new data from the Ministry of Climate Change and Energy shows emissions will fall by 2.2 percent by June 2025.
The emissions cuts are welcome news for the Albanian government, given that emissions reductions have remained steady at 28 per cent since June 2022, when Scott Morrison left office and Labor was elected.
Emissions fell sharply from 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced lockdowns across the country and reduced major pollution sources such as transportation and industry for almost two years. When lockdowns were lifted at the end of 2021, economic activity picked up again, causing emissions to rise.
Australia has committed to reducing its emissions by 42 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and by at least 62 per cent by 2035.
