Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia

The Australian government estimates that Australia's net emissions in 2017 were 556.4 million tonnes CO
2-equivalent, to which the sectoral contributions were approximately as follows: electricity, 33%; transport, 18%; stationary energy (excluding electricity), 17%; agriculture, 13%; fugitive emissions, 10%; industrial processes, 6%; waste, 3%.[4] This includes about 13% for non-electricity residential use.[5]

Of the 190 million tons emitted for Electricity in 2017, 20 million tons was for primary industry, 49 million tones for manufacturing (which might include aluminum smelting), 51 million tons Commercial, Construction and Transport, and 33 million tons Residential.[5]

The World Resources Institute estimates that Australia was responsible for 1.1% of all CO₂ emissions between 1850 and 2002.[6] This is about 3 times larger than Australia's share of global population, roughly a third of a percent as of 2013.

According to the no-mitigation scenario in the Garnaut Climate Change Review, Australia's share of world emissions, at 1.5% in 2005, declines to 1.1% by 2030, and to 1% by 2100.[7]

Some of the reasons for Australia's high levels of emissions include:-

• Australia smelts Aluminium, which is then exported and used elsewhere. This accounts for some 15% of electricity consumed.
• Australia has no nuclear power, very limited hydro electricity (4%), and minimal geothermal opportunities. 60% of electricity comes from coal,[8] and 15% from gas.
• A warm climate results in high use of air conditioning but limited needs for heating.
• The effect of agriculture.
• High levels of automobile and aeroplane use among the population.
• Continued deforestation.

The import and export of goods confounds equitable measurements of emissions, particularly in the context of endeavouring to reach a global agreement on emissions reduction based on contraction and convergence. Australian emissions are monitored on a production rather than a consumption basis. This means that the emissions from the manufacture of goods imported into and consumed within Australia, for example many motor vehicles, are allocated to the country of manufacture. Similarly, Australia produces aluminium for export which requires substantial amounts of electricity which is produced by greenhouse gas emitting coal-fired power stations. While the aluminium is mainly consumed overseas, the emissions of its production are allocated to Australia.

In 2018 Australia was the world's 2nd largest exporter of coal.[9]

Australia was estimated to be (not yet officially confirmed) the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in 2019.[10]

In the late 1980s and early 1990s there was clear Australian consensus about the need for action on climate change between the two major political parties. However following the 1991 recession incoming right wing governments began framing science of climate change as a continuing debate. In 1997 Australia joined the United States as the only countries to not ratify the Kyoto Protocol.[11]

With voters influenced by events like the Millennium drought and 2006s film An Inconvenient Truth both parties went to the 2007 election promising action on climate change, with the then opposition calling climate change the "greatest moral, economic and social challenge of our time". The incumbent Howard government lost, and the incoming Labor government immediately ratified the Kyoto Protocol. In 2009 before a bill could be passed, with the support of opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull, the opposition changed leaders to Tony Abbott, and supported by The Greens but for the opposite reason that Rudd's scheme was too weak and potentially locked in failure, blocked Rudd's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.[11]

In 2010 the Rudd government decided to delay the implementation of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) until the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (ending in 2012).[12] They cited the lack of bipartisan support for the CPRS and slow international progress on climate action as the reasons for the decision.[13] In turn the delay was strongly criticised by the Federal Opposition[14] as well as community and grassroots action groups such as GetUp.[15]

Following the unsuccessful Copenhagen Summit the Rudd was replaced by Gillard as Prime Minister, who stated that "there will be no 'carbon tax' under the government I lead".[11]

In 2012 the Gillard Labor government introduced Carbon pricing in Australia, which became colloquially known as a 'carbon tax'. It required large businesses, defined as those emitting over 25,000 tons of[16]carbon dioxide equivalent annually, to purchase emissions permits. The strong backlash lead by opposition leader Abbott led to her being replaced as leader by Rudd, then Abbott at the next election. Under his leadership, Australia became the first country to repeal a carbon pricing program.[17]

In 2015 Abbott was replaced as Prime Minister by Turnbull under the condition that his climate policy would not change.[11] Australia attended the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference and adopted the Paris Agreement. In limiting further action on climate change Australia joins Russia, Turkey and Brazil in citing US President Trump's promise to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.[18]

In 2018, Turnbull was replaced by Scott Morrison as leader of the Liberal party. Morrison won the 2019 election with an unchanged climate policy.

• Coal mining in Australia
• Adaptation to global warming in Australia
• Mitigation of global warming in Australia
• Environmental issues in Australia