Current Situation

Last update: 22 January 2025

Emissions profile

Australia’s total GHG emissions stood at 512 MtCO₂e in 2022 excluding LULUCF, which is just 2% below 2005 levels.¹^,²^,³ Over three-quarters of Australia’s emissions come from the energy sector. When including LULUCF, total emissions in 2022 were 423 MtCO₂e.

While power sector emissions have been falling since 2016 as coal-fired generation declines, the sector still accounted for 31% of total GHG emissions in 2022 excluding LULUCF.⁴ The transport sector was responsible for 18% of total emissions in 2022 and is projected to become Australia’s greatest source of GHG emissions by the end of the decade.⁵ The government has no plans to curb fossil fuel production, which accounted for 15% of domestic emissions in 2022 and further contributes to exported emissions.⁶^,⁷

Outside the energy sector, agricultural emissions accounted for 14% of total emissions excluding LULUCF,⁸ with approximately two-thirds caused by grazing beef and sheep.⁹ The LULUCF sector has been a net sink since 2015. However, it was historically a significant source of emissions due to land clearing.¹⁰ The sector is notable because the government is relying on high LULUCF sink levels to achieve its emissions reduction targets.

When graphs include LULUCF, the center value includes LULUCF if the sector is a net source of emissions and excludes it when the sector is a net sink of emissions

Graph description

Historical emissions per gas and per sector.

Data References
- UNFCCC National Inventory Submissions 2023

Energy overview and main policy gaps

Renewables made up just 9% of the primary energy mix in 2023 and 27% in 2021, despite Australia’s abundant wind and solar resources. Fossil fuels continue to heavily dominate Australia’s energy use. Despite a temporary dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, oil remains Australia’s most widely consumed fuel at 39% of the primary energy mix in 2023.¹¹ This reflects its widespread use in the transport sector, sustained by slow uptake of electric vehicles.

Coal consumption accounted for 26% of the primary energy mix in 2023.¹² Although around half of electricity is still generated from coal, this share is declining due to growth in renewables and accelerating coal plant retirements – trends which the government is relying on to meet its renewable electricity target of 82% by 2030.¹³ Fossil gas made up a further 26% of the primary energy mix and is used in power generation, manufacturing and own-use within the gas industry.¹⁴

In 2023, Australia was the third-largest LNG exporter and second-largest coal exporter, after being the world’s largest exporter of both in 2021.¹⁵ Australia has no targets for a fossil fuel phase-out and plans to sustain its fossil fuel production near current levels until at least 2035.¹⁶ Australia has abundant mineral resources, particularly iron ore and lithium for which Australia is the world’s largest producer,¹⁷ as well as abundant wind and solar resources. Transitioning to green exports is an enormous economic opportunity for Australia¹⁸ and would mitigate its stranded asset risk.

Targets and commitments

Target in 2022 NDC:

As expressed by the country:

43% below 2005 levels by 2030 incl. LULUCF¹⁹

When excluding LULUCF, Australia’s target translates to:

422 MtCO₂e or 20% below 2005 levels by 2030²⁰

Sector Coverage:

Agriculture, Waste, Industry (processes), Energy, LULUCF

Long-term target

As formulated by the country:

Net zero emissions by 2050 incl. LULUCF²¹

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions data is reported to the UNFCCC for financial years. For instance, ‘2021’ refers to the financial year 2020-21. ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts,” 2024 ↩
Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts reports emissions using global warming potentials from the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report. For 2022 emissions, this would be 521 MtCO₂e. We convert here using potentials from the Fourth Assessment Report for comparability to our national pathways. ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts.” ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s Emissions Projections 2023” (Australian Government, December 2023). ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts.” ↩
Sofia Gonzales-Zuñiga, Danial Riaz, and Mia Moisio, “Highlighting the Hypocrisy: Fossil Fuel Export Emissions,” Climate Action Tracker, n.d ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts.” ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s Emissions Projections 2023.” ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s Emissions Projections 2023.” ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australian Energy Update 2024” (Australian Government, September 2024) ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australian Energy Update 2024.” ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australia’s Emissions Projections 2023.” ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Australian Energy Update 2024.” ↩
Energy Institute, “Statistical Review of World Energy,” 2024. ↩
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, “Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: December 2023,” May 2024 ↩
Geoscience Australia, “Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources 2023,” 2024 ↩
Reuben Finighan, “The New Energy Trade” (The Superpower Institute, 2024) ↩
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, “Australia’s Nationally Determined Contribution Communication 2022” (Australian Government, June 16, 2022). ↩
Climate Action Tracker, “Australia. November 2024.,” Climate Analytics, NewClimate Institute, 2024 ↩
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, “Australia’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan” (Australian Government, October 29, 2021). ↩

What is Australia's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?

Emissions profile

Australia's 2022 GHG emissions

including LULUCF MtCO₂e/yr

Energy overview and main policy gaps

Targets and commitments

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