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 was launched this week by Al Gore in Egypt. It 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. Finally, Australia’s emissions are almost double Egypt’s, despite Egypt being home to four times the population of Australia.
Climate Council research director, Dr Simon Bradshaw, who is in Egypt, said the tracker 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,” he said.
“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.”