Reducing Australia's greenhouse emissions

To avoid dangerous climate change, the world needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This calls for broad-based action, and in Australia CSIRO is developing practical technologies to reduce emissions in the industry, agriculture, transport and energy sectors.

• 7 September 2006 | Updated 14 October 2011

Reducing emissions

• Reducing emissions
• Broad-based action needed 
• Practical solutions

Reducing emissions

It is now widely recognised that the global atmosphere’s ability to accept greenhouse gas emissions is limited without risking dangerous climate change.

We can adapt to some changes in the climate, but adaptation is not expected to cope with all the projected impacts of climate change, especially over the long term.

Mitigation efforts in the next few decades will have a large influence on whether greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere can be stabilised at a level low enough to reduce the risk of more serious climate change impacts.

Broad-based action needed

Limiting greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere requires broad-based action across many sectors of the global economy.

In Australia, it is a major national undertaking that involves households, companies, communities and governments.

Many impacts can be avoided, reduced or delayed by mitigating, and cutting net global greenhouse gas emissions.

Mitigation efforts over the next two to three decades will have a large impact on opportunities to achieve lower stabilisation levels and global warming.

There will be no single solution to this challenge – a portfolio of approaches is required to achieve mitigation targets.

Practical solutions

CSIRO is developing practical technologies for reducing emissions in the agriculture, transport and energy sectors.

We are also exploring methods for capturing greenhouse gases, particularly CO2.

These approaches include:

• Harnessing the sun for green power
• Capturing and storing carbon to clean up coal use
• Using biofuels for lower emission transport
• Reducing emissions in the home
• Farm and forest solutions for greenhouse gas emissions.