A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals that methane emissions from Australia’s coal mines are over double the government’s official figures submitted to the UN. The report estimates that in 2025, these mines will emit 1.7 million tonnes of methane, significantly higher than the reported 0.82 million tonnes.
Analysts emphasize that this discrepancy highlights substantial underreporting in Australia’s methane emissions, particularly from coal, which contributes to 30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. Notably, methane is much more powerful than carbon dioxide in terms of warming potential.
Experts, including Dr. Sabina Ahsan and Tim Baxter, advocate for urgent reductions in methane emissions from coal mining to align with climate science. Despite claims of improvements in emissions data, independent assessments continue to find inaccuracies in reporting methods. The Australian government has acknowledged the need for a review of methane measurement methods but remains resistant to suggestions for methodological changes.
Overall, the IEA report serves as a call for Australia to better address its methane emissions, especially as one of the largest coal exporters.
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