THE ACT’s greenhouse gas emissions rose slightly this past year compared to last year, as pollution from the transport sector increased.

Figures from the ACT government’s greenhouse gas emissions report for 2020-21 show that carbon emissions totalled 1,685 kilo tonnes, up 2.8 per cent compared to carbon emissions in 2019-20 which totalled 1,638 kilo tonnes.

Transport pollution in 2020-21 increased by five per cent from 2019-20 most likely due to a rebound in transport use following covid lockdowns.

“This is a slight increase on last year’s emissions, which were particularly low for a number of reasons, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and low transport emissions during the lockdown period in 2020,” Minister for Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury said.

Despite the increase over the past year, greenhouse gas emissions in the ACT have fallen by 45 per cent since 1990.

“The report shows that the overall trend of the territory’s emissions is on the right track, and the ACT remains a national leader when it comes to emissions reduction and climate action,” Mr Rattenbury said.

Transport remains the capital’s largest source of emissions in the ACT, followed by natural gas.

The report indicates there are still “many challenges ahead”, as the capital work towards a net zero emissions future, Mr Rattenbury said.

News all day, every day at CityNews.com.au.