LNG exports offset nation’s greenhouse gas emissions

Cuts to Australia´s greenhouse gas emissions are being offset by rising exports of liquefied natural gas.

National emissions for the September quarter of 2018 were 1.4 per cent down on the previous corresponding period.

Cuts to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions from electricity, transport and agriculture are being offset by rising exports of liquefied natural gas.

National emissions for the September quarter of 2018 were 1.4 per cent down on the previous corresponding period but on an annual basis emissions were up almost 1 per cent. Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price said the figures showed emissions from the electricity sector were the lowest in a decade.

Electricity emissions have fallen 14.8 per cent since the peak recorded in 2009 as a result of the increase in renewable generation. In the year to December, renewable generation in the National Electricity Market rose 31.1 per cent. To get there, Ms Price said the government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation had invested $6.4 billion, leveraging $21bn in the development of low-emissions technology. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency had also provided $1.347bn to 441 new renewable energy projects. Despite the gains in electricity, emissions for the year to September were estimated to be 536 Mt CO2-e, up 0.9 per cent (4.6 Mt CO2-e) on the previous year. This was primarily due to increased LNG exports, up 19.7 per cent.

The federal Department of Environment and Energy figures show national emissions for the year to September were 15.1 per cent below the peak recorded in 2007.