Victoria’s emissions have taken a leap despite community effort
CENTRAL Victoria’s greenhouse emissions have jumped by more than 50 per cent, despite strong community campaigns to reduce them. Figures obtained by the Bendigo Weekly show the average increase in greenhouse emissions between 1999 and 2003 was 54 per cent. Previously, the 1999 figures were the only ones governments and local organisations have had to rely on. The new figures, revealed as part of a CSIRO report into the region’s sustainability future, paint an alarming picture. Greenhouse emissions in the Loddon Shire jumped by 270 per cent over the four-years to 519,000 tonnes. The Gannawarra Shire had the second-largest percentage increase, rising 232 per cent to 692,000 tonnes. The Buloke Shire had the next biggest increase, jumping 183 per cent to 328,000 tonnes. The Campaspe Shire also recorded a dramatic rise in greenhouse gas emissions, jumping 98 per cent to 1.506 million tonnes per year. That overall figure means the Campaspe Shire is emitting more greenhouse gases a year than the City of Greater Bendigo and the City of Ballarat. According to the new figures, Bendigo emits 1.325 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year, an increase of only four per cent from 1999. Ballarat emits slightly more gases, with 1.34 million in 2003. Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance executive officer Bronwen Machin said the alliance would look closely at the figures. “At the moment we can’t see why they are so different, but the CVGA will be investigating this a bit closer,” she said.
