Rising Emissions Cast Doubt on Climate Change Department’s Ability to Meet Net Zero Targets

There has been a 0.4 percent increase in carbon emissions in Australia between the year to June 2022 and the year to June 2024.

Steam and exhaust rise from a chemical facility in Oberhausen, Germany, on Jan. 6, 2017. Lukas Schulze/Getty Images

Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Department has been questioned about its ability to meet net-zero targets amid recent increases in carbon emissions.

During a recent budget estimate hearing, Kath Rowley, head of the Department’s emissions reduction division, reported a slight rise in emissions from 438.4 million tonnes in the year to June 2022 to 440.8 million tonnes in the year to June 2024—an increase of 0.4 percent.