CO₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia
Australia: CO₂ emissions embedded in trade was -12.16 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
CO₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia, 1990–2023
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for co₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia is -12.16 million tonnes, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 36.0% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia peaked at 8.16 million tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, -57.84 million tonnes, in 2000.
Australia ranks 105th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
CO₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -33.38 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | -34.01 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1992 | -36.37 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1993 | -40.00 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1994 | -35.67 million tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1995 | -41.26 million tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1996 | -42.11 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1997 | -44.08 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1998 | -40.28 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1999 | -43.40 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2000 | -57.84 million tonnes | +33.3% |
| 2001 | -56.90 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2002 | -41.48 million tonnes | -27.1% |
| 2003 | -28.28 million tonnes | -31.8% |
| 2004 | -30.29 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2005 | -33.31 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2006 | -27.26 million tonnes | -18.2% |
| 2007 | -22.61 million tonnes | -17.1% |
| 2008 | -31.80 million tonnes | +40.7% |
| 2009 | -8.25 million tonnes | -74.1% |
| 2010 | -5.78 million tonnes | -29.9% |
| 2011 | -4.64 million tonnes | -19.8% |
| 2012 | 8.16 million tonnes | -275.9% |
| 2013 | -11.63 million tonnes | -242.6% |
| 2014 | -8.10 million tonnes | -30.4% |
| 2015 | -13.36 million tonnes | +64.9% |
| 2016 | -19.75 million tonnes | +47.8% |
| 2017 | -17.39 million tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2018 | -28.40 million tonnes | +63.3% |
| 2019 | -31.28 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2020 | -24.21 million tonnes | -22.6% |
| 2021 | -25.34 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2022 | -19.00 million tonnes | -25.0% |
| 2023 | -12.16 million tonnes | -36.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's -12.16 million tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.84 million tonnes. (52 countries reporting)
- Australia's -12.16 million tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.02 million tonnes. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +275.9% | -4.64 million tonnes | 8.16 million tonnes |
| 2013 | -242.6% | 8.16 million tonnes | -11.63 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -39.06 million tonnes | -44.08 million tonnes | -33.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | -33.80 million tonnes | -57.84 million tonnes | -8.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -13.22 million tonnes | -31.28 million tonnes | 8.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -20.18 million tonnes | -25.34 million tonnes | -12.16 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia?
- Co₂ emissions embedded in trade in Australia was -12.16 million tonnes in 2023, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions embedded in trade recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.16 million tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions embedded in trade recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -57.84 million tonnes in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for co₂ emissions embedded in trade?
- Australia ranks 105th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is co₂ emissions embedded in trade rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions embedded in trade. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions embedded in trade, measured in tonnes.