Australia’s emissions rise after ending carbon tax

Carbon dioxide emissions from Australia’s power sector increased after it ended its carbon tax at the highest rate in eight years.

The generation sector’s carbon emissions grew by about 1 million metric tonnes, or 0.8 percent, on an annualized basis in the two months since the July vote to end the tax on carbon pollution, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

{mosads}“It is highly likely that the trend directions of electricity demand, generation and emissions seen in the last two months will become set in place,” consultancy Pitt & Sherry said, according to the Herald.

The country’s Green Party said the numbers show that Prime Minister Tony Abbott “delivered for the big polluters.”

In addition, the market for coal in Australia rose in August after hitting a record low in July, the Herald said.

Meanwhile, the solar and wind energy industries believe the government is going to drop its renewable energy goals, destroying the green energy market.

Australia’s power plants account for about a third of its carbon emissions, the largest share.

The country become the first nation in July to end its carbon tax after Abbott and his conservative colleagues made the issue a top priority of the most recent election.