Australia's annual emissions continue to rise, driven by LNG production

(The Guardian, 28 Feb 2019) Emissions for the year to September 2018 up 0.9% as Morrison government attempts a policy pivot on climate.

Emissions in Australia are continuing to rise, with the latest increases driven predominantly by an increase in liquefied natural gas production in Western Australia.

Emissions for the year to September 2018 went up 0.9% on the previous year, according to the latest inventory, primarily due to a 19.7% increase in LNG exports, but there were also increases in stationary energy, transport, fugitives, industrial processes and waste sectors.

The increased pollution from stationary energy reflects production growth in the mining sector, in steel and aluminium. The increase in LNG production has driven a 7.3% increase in fugitive emissions over the year to September 2018.

Transport emissions also increased 2% over the year to September, with an 8.4% increase in diesel consumption, reflecting increased diesel passenger vehicle sales and more freight activity.

But emissions in Australia’s electricity sector continued to fall, courtesy of a 12.3% reduction in brown coal supply, and a 14.2% increase in generation from renewable sources.

The latest data shows that emissions in Australia’s electricity sector peaked in 2009, and have decreased almost 15% from that time.

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The Guardian, 28 Feb 2019: Australia's annual emissions continue to rise, driven by LNG production