---
title: Australia’s transport-driven emissions spike shows need to get moving on clean cars
description: Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions rose by 0.8 per cent in 2021, largely attributed to transport and fossil fuel production.
---
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)
[](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)
The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
# Australia’s transport-driven emissions spike shows need to get moving on clean cars
Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2021, largely attributed to transport and fossil fuel production. The spike has laid bare that gas has no place in our energy transition and we need a strong Fuel Efficiency Standard to get Australia onto the clean transport track.
New federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek has received an enthusiastic welcome at the UN ocean conference in Lisbon, declaring “under the new Australian government, the environment is back front and centre” as she flagged five new blue carbon projects to be announced this week.
And former defence leaders are warning Australia is ill-prepared for food insecurity fuelled by the climate crisis and war as a new report reveals small island developing states in the Pacific are especially vulnerable to the effects of drought and flooding on food production.
[Australia’s carbon emissions rise amid Covid-19 recovery](https://transition.meltwater.com/paywall/redirect/Rg1KtJs3KW9iWAJVRXAkSeWLvPc?cid=ed18261c-0e2b-48f4-a7e5-666b89a7dafd&productType=search)
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 0.8 per cent in 2021, with Greenpeace Australia Pacific calling for a faster transition to renewables and the electrification of transport to reverse increasing emissions.
[Tanya Plibersek declares environment ‘is back front and centre’ in Australia at UN ocean conference](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/27/tanya-plibersek-declares-environment-is-back-front-and-centre-in-australia-at-un-ocean-conference)
Environment minister receives enthusiastic welcome at UN ocean conference in Lisbon and flags five blue carbon projects to safeguard ocean health.
[Australia ‘ill-prepared’ for food insecurity driven by war and climate crisis, former defence leaders say](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/28/australia-ill-prepared-for-food-insecurity-driven-by-war-and-climate-crisis-former-defence-leaders-say)
Former military heads warn Australia is badly prepared for food insecurity fuelled by the climate crisis and war ahead of a new report which describes Australia and the Asia-Pacific as a “disaster alley” for climate change.
[Inside Synergy’s bittersweet race from coal to clean](https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/western-australia/inside-synergy-s-bittersweet-race-from-coal-to-clean-20220623-p5aw0c.html)
The boss of WA’s state-owned power company had only been in the job four weeks when the premier revealed the backbone of his business – two coal-fired plants in Collie – would close this decade to be replaced by wind, storage and gas.
[Clean energy sector says big batteries, pumped hydro can solve crisis](https://transition.meltwater.com/paywall/redirect/sznlUTffk9bbjUHsluT0oEwN7Ow?cid=257df114-7fa3-402a-9d48-2701cb477d8d&productType=search)
The Energy Security Board (ESB) has declared energy market reform is desperately needed and are calling for a national target to spur big batteries and pumped hydro projects.
[gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [Pacific](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/pacific), [Electric vehicles](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/electric-vehicles)
### Will you share with your friends?
[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australias-transport-driven-emissions-spike-shows-need-to-get-moving-on-clean-cars%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australias-transport-driven-emissions-spike-shows-need-to-get-moving-on-clean-cars%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australias-transport-driven-emissions-spike-shows-need-to-get-moving-on-clean-cars%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/australias-transport-driven-emissions-spike-shows-need-to-get-moving-on-clean-cars%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=)
[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
## More news
### [Political stoush erupting over Australia’s environment laws](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/political-stoush-erupting-over-australias-environment-laws)
A political stoush is erupting over a tweak to Australia's environment laws, with the federal...
### [AGL to close South Australia’s main gas power station by mid-2026](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/agl-to-close-south-australias-main-gas-power-station-by-mid-2026)
Today we start with some positive news as AGL is closing South Australia’s main gas power station...
### [Green light to extend life of Woodside's North West Shelf would blow Australia’s emissions budget](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/epa-gives-green-light-to-extend-life-of-woodsides-north-west-shelf-in-blow-to-australias-emissions-budget)
WA’s environmental regulator has recommended approval of gas giant Woodside’s North West Shelf...
Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***
[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)
[](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)
Connect with us
**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)
Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.
© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)