Emissions

Australia has two emissions targets:

• Net Zero by 2050
• 43% below 2005 levels by 2030

'Net' means total emissions put into the atmosphere minus emissions removed from the atmosphere (either by human intervention or natural processes).

View Emissions Dashboards here.

Mt CO₂-e is Million Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent. Dataset updated quarterly. Source: DCCEEW.

When you hear the term 'Net Zero', have you ever thought about what 'Net' means?

It means total emissions put into the atmosphere minus emissions removed from the atmosphere.

So, gross emissions, are the total emissions put into the atmosphere before any removals.

In Australia, only one sector is responsible for both releasing and removing greenhouse gases: Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).

We have removed LULUCF from the total net emissions, as a proxy for Australia's gross emissions.

When countries report their emissions, they're divided into sectors. Here are some key terms:

• Fugitive emissions are released during gas, oil and coal production.
• Industrial processes mean chemical, metal and mineral production, as well as fridges and air-conditioners.
• Stationary energy means burning fuel for energy (e.g. gas, coal) in settings other than transport, such as power plants or buildings.

For more, click the Read more button.

Australia's Constitution divides powers and responsibilities between its eight states and territories and the federal government. 

Each state and territory has its own unique economy, priorities and policies.

They are making different progress towards Net Zero for different reasons. 

Drill down into each state, and click below to learn more.

How does Australia rank compared to other countries?

• Raw emissions: 15th highest
• Emissions per person: 8th highest

Click the arrows in the table to sort.

Note: This data source is the Potsdam Institute in Germany. It excludes emissions from the Land Use sector. To learn more, click Read more below.