Solar boom, pandemic curbs drive Australia's carbon emissions down 5%

MELBOURNE: Australia's greenhouse gas emissions fell 5.3% in the year to March 2021 as coronavirus lockdowns reduced transportation exhaust and increases in solar and wind power cut emissions from electricity generation, government data showed on Tuesday.

Australia's emissions fell to 494.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) as of March 2021 from 521.9 million tonnes CO2-e a year earlier, the Department of Industry said in a quarterly report. "While there is still work to be done, this data shows the Government's comprehensive suite of policies to meet its emissions reduction commitments, encourage innovation and back new and emerging low emissions technologies are working," Energy Minister Angus Taylor said in a statement.