Greenhouse emissions from energy-use in Australia’s eastern states rose in 2008, according to a new report by The Climate Group, an international coalition of business and government leaders building the economic case for taking action against climate change.

 

Emissions in Victoria and Queensland rose by 2.2 percent from 2007 to 2008 to 2 million tonnes, respectively, while in NSW emissions fell by half a million tonnes.

 

Across the three states the total electricity generated in 2008 was 1.3 per cent higher than 2007. However, the resulting emissions from electricity increased more substantially (up 2 percent) as more electricity was produced from coal-fired generators and less from gas and renewable sources than in 2007, The Climate Group said.

 

Compared with 2000 levels, emissions from energy-use were significantly higher across all states, collectively up 19 percent. The increase above equivalent 1990 levels is even more substantial: it has risen by 116 percent in Queensland, 30 percent in NSW and 32 percent in Victoria.

 

Rupert Posner, Australia Director of The Climate Group said the findings show that “our reliance on coal for electricity is our biggest problem when it comes to cutting our greenhouse gas emissions. We need to change this pretty quickly if we want to cut greenhouse emissions.”