Warmer winter helps cut eastern Australia's carbon emissions

by Rich Bowden - Sep 7 2009, 03:57

Energy carbon emissions fell dramatically this Australian winter in the eastern states compared to the previous winter, according to a new report released today by environmental organisation The Climate Group.

The Climate Group’s Greenhouse Indicator Winter Report showed greenhouse gas emissions to be 74.69 million tonnes with warmer weather during the winter period credited as the reason for the fall.

The drop in emissions was noticeable in all states with South Australia recording the largest relative fall in winter emissions of more than 8 per cent compared with 2008.

“The extraordinarily warm winter is likely to be the major contributing factor to the drop in greenhouse emissions,” said Rupert Posner, Australia Director of The Climate Group.

Figures released by the Group show Australia's winter this year to be one of the warmest ever recorded with average temperatures at least one degree higher than the long-term average across all four states: Victoria was 1.0 degree higher, New South Wales 1.48 degrees higher, Queensland 1.52 degrees higher and South Australia 1.76 higher than the long term average.

The milder temperatures reduced the amount of heating needed by people which was an important factor in the reduced emissions level.

However Posner warned that, while the cut in emission levels was a good result, a change was needed in how energy was sourced.

“While this winter’s reductions in greenhouse emissions are good news there is an unfortunate irony as this is because of unseasonably warm winter. Reducing demand is an important step in cutting our greenhouse emissions but we also need to change the way we produce energy."

He added that slowed economic growth due to the global financial crisis had also assisted in putting the brakes on Australia's carbon emissions and called for a "meaningful" climate deal to arise from the talks in Copenhagen this December.

“Significantly slowed economic growth rates are also likely to have eased pressure on emissions growth,” he said. “Higher temperatures have also been joined by the reduced rainfall we have seen for a number of years."

These early trends should serve as a potent reminder of why we need to reduce
greenhouse emissions in Australia as well as do everything possible to strengthen the chances of a meaningful international climate agreement in Copenhagen at the end of this year,” said Posner.

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