When more carbon dioxide (CO₂) goes into the air, global temperatures rise. To plan for the future, we need to know how much CO₂ is being released and how much is taken out of the air.
'Sinks' remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, e.g. natural forests and coastal ecosystems. While 'sources' release CO₂ into the atmosphere, e.g. burning fossil fuels or deforestation.
Case study
Researchers from the Climate Systems Hub assessed Australia's carbon sources and sinks from 2010 to 2019. The work provides the most comprehensive understanding of Australia's CO₂ balance. It shows how human activities and natural processes contribute to CO₂ emissions and removal.
The assessment showed Australia's emissions were dominated by the extraction and use of fossil fuels. While the sinks were partially offsetting fossil fuel emissions, the balance changed significantly from year to year.
The results from the assessment were included in the 2024 State of the Climate report.
