Australia’s Environment Minister claims “peak emissions” – "No" say climate experts

Australia’s Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, claimed on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) radio this morning that Australia, “... reached peak emissions in 2005-06 ... & the course of history to come for Australia is that we will continue to be below that figure.”

Brought responses including:

● “... there is no peak in sight … Australia’s emissions growth rate is projected to be among the highest of all developed countries.” – Hugh Grossman, Executive Director of RepuTex

● “Australia’s emissions have been rising for the past two years, land clearing is escalating in Queensland & New South Wales, there are big question marks over the future of the emissions reduction fund & we have a wet lettuce safeguards policy & no limits on coal-fired electricity generation.” – John Connor, Chief Executive of the Climate Institute

● “And Australia's fossil fuel emissions continue to rise, jumping 3% in the 2014-15 year – unlike the European Union & the US, whose emissions have genuinely peaked.” – Climate Council

● “There is no time to waste. Every year that we don’t significantly reduce fossil fuel emissions matters. We cannot solve climate change through questionable carbon accounting that hides increases in fossil fuel emissions." – Prof. Will Steffen, Australian National University

More:

Australian emissions rising towards historical highs and will not peak before 2030, analysis finds –
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/australian-emissions-rising-towards-historical-highs-and-will-not-peak-before-2030-analysis-finds-20160131-gmhw7y.html

Greg Hunt's claim of 'peak emissions' attacked by climate experts –
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/15/greg-hunts-claim-carbon-emissions-have-peaked-attacked-by-climate-experts

Peak emissions?! Tell him he's dreamin' – http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/peak-emissions-greg-hunt / climate change carbon dioxide CO2 global warming Greg Hunt claim peak emissions attacked climate experts Australia’s emissions almost certainly rise policies that don’t put limits increases from industry experts expressed deep scepticism prediction environment minister Greg Hunt Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions peaked 10 years ago peak emissions Hunt told ABC’s AM program best estimate surpass 2005 levels best judgment advice information department peak emissions 2005-06 history Australia below that figure government’s most recent forecast projected emissions 2020 emissions slightly below 2005 levels emissions rising 560m tonnes 2014–15 593m tonnes 2019–20 level slightly below 2005 highs government projections following decade until 2030 showed emissions rising latest data longer-term predictions government’s Direct Action policies independent experts predict Australia’s emissions rise under current policies limits on emission increases industry electricity generation land-clearing deeply sceptical Hunt’s peak emissions in 2005 claim Hugh Grossman executive director RepuTex analysis government’s own data Australia’s emissions would continue to grow no peak in sight latest government figures showed emissions growing again Australia’s emissions growth rate among the highest of all developed countries almost all developed economies have begun to cut their emissions China United States Australia’s national emissions remain on a growth pathway exceed historic high no peak emissions RepuTex analysis government’s figures national emissions growth continue to rise climate policies emissions reduction fund Australia’s projected emissions growth projected net increase in emissions 2020 Australia’s calculated abatement task actual national emissions government policy government’s updated estimates strong upward trajectory chief executive of the Climate Institute John Connor extraordinary comments Greg Hunt enormous credibility gap government’s current policies Australia’s emissions rising for the past two years land clearing escalating Queensland New South Wales future of the emissions reduction fund safeguards policy no limits on coal-fired electricity generation safeguards policy stop increases industrial emissions imposes very few limitations emissions peaked decline government’s current policies government spending $2.5bn buy emissions reductions Direct Action policy review policy next year /