The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program released the March 2018 quarter National Energy Emissions Audit, by renowned energy expert Hugh Saddler.

Key points

+  Australia’s energy emissions were almost unchanged over the three months from September to December 2017 

Australia’s annual energy combustion emissions have now been hovering at or around their highest ever levels for nearly two years altogether.

+  Petroleum consumption continues to be is the main driver of emission increases

Large increases in consumption of petroleum fuels, particularly diesel, continue to offset gradually falling electricity generation emissions, suggesting that if, as is likely, electricity generation emissions stop falling, total energy emissions will increase.

+  The government projects that energy combustion emissions will be higher in 2030 than they are today

Official projections, released just before Christmas, suggest that, on the basis of current policies, energy combustion emissions will continue to keep gradually increasing.

+  Rapidly growing consumption of diesel is driving energy consumption increases

While consumption of all other fossil fuels has been either flat, or declining, for more than three years, diesel consumption continues its rapid growth.

+  Road transport is now the main contributor to diesel consumption growth

Until a year or so ago, mining was making a large contribution to growth in diesel consumption.  Now it appears that almost all growth is coming from road transport.