Monday 6 July 2015

Carbon tax repeal sparks jump in Australia's electricity emissions

Extract from The Guardian

A 4.3% rise in electricity emissions counters Australia’s credibility in the lead-up to the Paris climate talks, the Climate Council says
Electricity wires
The Climate Council says the increase of 4.3% has undone part of an 11% fall in emissions during the two years the carbon tax was in place. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images
Electricity emissions have jumped since the repeal of the carbon tax, the Climate Council says.
The council cites new data by consultants Pitt & Sherry, showing carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity grid went up 6.4m tonnes in the last financial year since the tax was axed.
The increase of 4.3% has undone part of an 11% fall in emissions during the two years the tax was in place.
The federal government will soon outline Australia’s post-2020 targets, before the Paris conference in December.
“The news that emissions have gone up in Australia will do little to counter the impression that Australia is acting as a ‘free rider’ on the back of other countries’ efforts,” the Climate Council chief executive, Amanda McKenzie, said in a statement on Sunday.
The environment minister, Greg Hunt, has said the country’s future carbon targets will be credible.

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