Despite the Australia economy growing, the National Greenhouse Accounts have shown Australia’s carbon pollution fell slightly in 2012, due mainly to lower greenhouse gas emission from the electricity generation sector.


The latest report takes into consideration results from four major papers, Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: December Quarter 2012, National Inventory Report 2011, (submission under the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol), National Inventory by Economic Sector 2010-11 and the State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2010-11

The official accounts indicate Australia’s total greenhouse gas emission fell by 0.2 per cent to the previous year. This same period saw growth in real GDP of 3.4 per cent. In real terms, the annual emissions for this period were down from 553.2 million tonnes in 2011 to 551.9 million tonnes.

The major sectors covered by the carbon pricing mechanism saw a decrease in emission of 1 per cent over the six months to December 2012 compared to the same period of time in 2011. The sector includes electricity, other stationary energy, fugitives, industrial process emissions and waste.

The electricity generation sector accounts for 36 per cent of carbon pollution in Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. This sector alone has seen a considerable decline, of over 14 million tonnes in the first two quarters of 2012-13 compared to the same period in the previous year.

The carbon price, Renewable Energy Target and energy efficiency policies have each contributed to turning the growth of electricity sector commissions since November 2007. Despite some modest emission growths from other sectors, driven by Australia’s strong economic growth and resources investment it appears we are on the right course.

However, we should not become blasé; we must continue to take action on climate change across a number of fronts, including the carbon price and investing in cleaner energy sources to cut carbon pollution.

Considering Australia formally submitted the latest National Greenhouse Accounts to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), showing that Australia’s carbon pollution levels are currently tracking at 105 per cent of their 1990 levels, there is still a long way to go.

Companies such as shift2neutralare imperative to ensure there is a future with renewable energy sources, minimising the impact of centuries of climate abuse and food to feed the masses.Climate change is happening now and shift2neutralis actively making a cleaner world. Action today will provide a base for the future.

Brett Goldsworthy is a passionate campaigner behind protecting our environment for future generations who foundedand drives shift2neutral. The Australian based company invests in the latest alternative and renewable energy technologies and supports the development of emerging technologies to protect our future.Shift2neutral is also involved in a number of community activities that aim to reduce the impact of negative climate change.

Investment into solar energy will in the future ensure its prominence as source of energy to power our never ending thirst for all things electrical in an environmentally sustainable and financial manner. shift2neutral will be a leader in this search for a solution.

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www.shift2neutral.com