Australia's emissions are almost double those of Egypt, according to a new global emissions tracker launched at COP27
The Climate TRACE platform tracks greenhouse gas emissions from around the world, providing maps and data on 72,000 power plants, oil refineries, airports, and more.
The global tool launched by Al Gore in Egypt also shows:
- Australia's emissions are more than triple those of the entire Pacific region, including New Zealand.
- The emissions from Australia's most polluting power station – Origin's Eraring coal power station in NSW – are greater than the combined emissions of all monitored facilities in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Kiribati, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Federated States of Micronesia.
- Australia's emissions are almost double those of the whole of Scandinavia's.
- Australia's emissions are almost double Egypt's, despite Egypt being home to four times the population of Australia.
Dr Simon Bradhsaw, Climate Council Research Director, who's in Egypt for COP27, said: "This really shows just how much of a fossil fuel giant Australia is and the injustice of the climate crisis.
"Time and time again, we're seeing those that emit the least – like Pacific Island countries – being hit the hardest by climate disasters.
"Australia must support those on the front lines of the climate crisis. This has been a major theme of COP27, and will continue to dominate global climate negotiations until real commitments on addressing loss and damage are made.
"The world's biggest polluters, like Australia, need to start forking out for the damage they have caused."
So far, only a handful of countries have made new loss and damage commitments: Scotland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Belgium and New Zealand.
"Australia's shift from fossil fuel heavyweight to renewable energy superpower could herald a new era of regional cooperation with the Pacific.
"But the Federal Government has to start by taking fossil fuels off the table, immediately, especially if it's serious about co-hosting COP31 in partnership with the Pacific in four years' time."
Based on Australia's high emissions, economic strength and vast untapped opportunities for renewable energy, Australia should be aiming to reduce its emissions to 75% below 2005 levels by 2030. Here's 10 climate game-changers to get us started.
