Victoria releases latest (2022) Greenhouse gas emissions report showing year on year 4.3 megatonnes increase

The latest Victorian Greenhouse gas emissions report is for 2022 and contains the headline details for Victoria's emissions profile. It was tabled in Parliament by Climate and Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio.

The report is 16 pages long, and contains considerably less detail than reports from previous years which broke down data more finely and were often over 6o pages in length. So only headline details are shown, which is very disappointing and may hide particular problems in some sectors.

This is also a Net zero emissions which takes into account Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) carbon sequestration. This is notoriously difficult to estimate accurately. 

While the long term trend is decreasing emissions, in 2022 emissions actually increased. This is most likely a rebound effect with regard to recovering from the Pandemic.

Total net emissions in 2019 were  86.8 MT CO2e, in 2020 86.2MT, in 2021 80.4MT,  and in 2022 84.7MT. So between 2021 and 2022 net greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) increased by 4.3 megatonnes.

While the electricity sector continued reduction in emissions, Transport, Agriculture and Waste showed some increase and highlighted sectors that need to be addressed.

I think Victorian Climate and Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio is working particularly hard in her portfolio. The State Labor Government has set ambitious climate targets, supported exit of gas and electrification. Lily explains in the Foreward:

• The Victorian Government has legislated ambitious emissions reduction targets on our path to net zero by 2045. 
• Our targets are to reduce emissions by 28-33% below 2005 levels by 2025, 45-50% by 2030, and 75-80% by 2035. These world leading targets will see Victoria playing its part in global efforts to limit the adverse impacts of climate change.
• This report shows that Victoria has reduced its net emissions by 31.3% below 2005 levels – within the range of our 2025 target.
• Our continued progress towards emissions reduction targets is supported by our nation-leading Victorian Renewable Energy Targets. The targets are 65% renewable energy by 2030 and 95% by 2035. 
• We have also set energy storage targets of 2.6 gigawatts by 2030, and 6.3 gigawatts of storage by 2035. 
• The revival of the State Electricity Commission will put electricity back in the hands of Victorians and support these renewable energy and storage targets.
• Reducing our dependence on fossil gas will help slash emissions and power bills. Going all-electric in a new home puts $1,000 per year back in the pockets of new-home owners, or over $2,200 per year for those that have solar installed. 
• In December 2023, I released an updated version of the Gas Substitution Roadmap. The update focuses on helping households to make the transition to efficient all-electric homes.

Here is a comparison of sectors over the last 4 years from data in a spreadsheet published separately to the report:

References

DEECA, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/greenhouse-gas-emissions