Australia has committed to reduce greenhouse emissions across the economy by 26-28 per cent by 2030 (from 2005 levels), as part of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The Government’s economy-wide reduction commitment extends from emissions from coal fired power stations to methane from CSG extraction. It also covers everything from belching cattle to emissions from land clearing. Some of these emission processes are highly variable, uncertain and difficult to measure, making estimates potentially contentious.

Emissions are tracked by the National Greenhouse Accounts prepared by the Department of Environment and Energy. Their reports are among the most scrutinised of any environmental data.

Rob Sturgiss, Assistant Secretary, National Inventory Systems, Department of Environment and Energy, will discuss the latest science on greenhouse emission processes across Australia. How does the Department aim to build the confidence of users and stakeholders in the tracking of Australia’s treaty commitments?

This will be followed by panel discussion and audience Q&A with:

• Professor Andrew Macintosh, ANU College of Law
• Professor Mark Howden, Director, ANU Climate Change Institute

About the speaker

Prior to his role as Assistant Secretary, National Inventory Systems, Rob had a long association with the implementation of Australia’s climate policies and is currently serving as a Bureau member for the IPCC Taskforce on Greenhouse Gas Inventories.