Greenhouse gas emissions per capita, Australia, United States, China, India and the OECD
Ahead of the COP26 starting this weekend, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia’s net-zero emissions target by 2050, which follows similar targets from the United States and other nations.
Morrison also stated Australia was on track to reduce emissions by 35 per cent in 2030 from 2005 levels, a slight improvement from the 26-28 per cent target set out in Australia’s commitment in the Paris agreement although still lagging behind Biden's target of 50-52 per cent reduction for the United States.
Since 2005, Australia has seen a 15 per cent drop in greenhouse gas emissions on a per capita basis through to 2018. Yet in that same period, Australia’s net emissions have increased by 3.4 per cent.
The United States is on a more promising trajectory and since 2005 has dropped greenhouse gas emissions per capita by 18 per cent through to 2018, while US net emissions have dropped by 9.5 per cent.