National emissions data shows pollution rising

The Australian Greens MPs

Today’s quarterly emissions data reveals that emissions have risen by almost 2% this quarter and that the temporary decrease in carbon pollution during COVID-19 is wearing off.

Even more concerningly, June quarter emissions were 128 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, the highest number since December 2019 and the beginning of the pandemic.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said this proves the only way to take genuine action on climate change is to kick the Liberals out, and put the Greens into balance of power.

As stated by Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:

“We’re in a climate emergency, but emissions are increasing.

“Our pollution needs to be rapidly falling but instead it’s increasing.

“Emissions are at their highest level since December 2019.

“A pandemic is not a climate plan.

“Scott Morrison has been relying on lockdowns to deliver his measly emissions cuts, but across Australia, Labor and Liberal Federal, State and Territory governments are opening more coal and gas projects, and now we’re starting to see the effect of it.

“We need to get out of fossil fuels, but Liberal and Labor are opening up more coal and gas, and now our emissions are rising instead of falling.

“What part of ‘no more coal and gas’ don’t Liberal and Labor understand? This week’s approval of $50 million to frack the Beetaloo Basin will increase Australia’s emission even further.

“We need to take genuine climate action, and we can’t take another three years of the Liberals’ lies and fudged figures. We need to kick the Liberals out and put the Greens into balance of power, where we’ll push the next government to phase out coal and gas and reduce emissions 75% by 2030.”

/Public Release. View in full here.