Emissions reduction
Protect, repair and manage the environment
Metrics
- Net greenhouse gas emissions
- Renewable share of electricity generation
Why this matters
Action to achieve net zero emissions will help prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Australia, along with all parties to the Paris Agreement, has committed to the global goal of holding the increase in global average temperatures to well below 2°C of warming and pursuing efforts to keep warming to less than 1.5°C.
Australia is among the countries best positioned to benefit from the transformation to a net zero emission economy. Our abundance of sun, wind and land means Australia can generate large volumes of electricity to power our homes and industries, and to export. Reducing emissions and growing new low-carbon industries will be key to realising this economic opportunity.
Progress
Net greenhouse gas emissions
In the year to December 2023:
- annual net greenhouse gas emissions were 432.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e). This is 29% below emissions in the year to June 2005 (the baseline year for Australia's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement).
- annual net greenhouse gas emissions were down 0.5% (2.4 Mt CO2-e) on the previous year.
- Net emissions estimates are compiled using methods consistent with UNFCCC and Paris Agreement requirements, and the latest information available at the time of compilation.
- Annual data shown in the graph reflects calendar years
Renewable share of electricity generation
In the 2022-23 financial year, electricity generated from renewable energy was 33.9%, an increase from 8.5% in 2002‑03.
The increase was driven by electricity generated from wind (11.4%, up from 0.3% in 2002-03), and solar (15.3%, up from less than 0.1% in 2002-03).