Australian greenhouse gas emissions fall to lowest level since 1998 under Covid restrictions

Coronavirus restrictions have caused Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to fall to their lowest level since 1998, the latest official data suggests.

National emissions in the June quarter 2020 were estimated to be 8% – or about 10m tonnes of carbon dioxide – lower than a year earlier.

The energy and emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, said the reductions in preliminary data to June had been caused by “unsustainable restrictions on Australians’ livelihoods and freedom to travel”, including a 79% reduction in emissions caused by jet fuel.

Emissions from petrol were also down 26% in June, compared to the previous year.

“With the impacts of Covid-19 restrictions being felt across the economy, emissions have reduced as expected,” Taylor said.

The figures, released by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, give preliminary results to the end of June and official data to March.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/31/australian-greenhouse-gas-emissions-fall-to-lowest-level-since-1998-under-covid-restrictions

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