Australian outback found to be a vast climate 'Pollution Bank'

Australia’s vast Outback has been found to play a vital role in absorbing and storing damaging climate pollution and, if better managed, the area could become a key factor in reducing the nation’s greenhouse emissions, according to a new national study.

The study, "Outback Carbon - An Assessment of Carbon Storage, Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Remote Australia" (1.2Mb PDF) was commissioned by The Nature Conservancy and the Pew Environment Group as part of their joint Wild Australia Program. Approximately 80 percent or 6 million square kilometres of Australia’s Outback was examined. 

Carbon rich Eucalyptus Woodland in Great Western Woodlands. Photo: Barbara Madden

The research found that 9.7 billion tonnes of carbon is stored in the forests, grasslands and woodlands that stretch across Australia’s Outback.

An additional 1.3 billion tonnes of carbon could be stored by 2050 in the Outback’s massive ‘pollution bank’ if steps are taken now to protect and better manage the area, the study found. This additional level of carbon storage would be the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road every year for the next 40 years.

The study identifies inexpensive and practical opportunities for increasing the Outback’s amount of stored carbon as well as reducing its climate pollution, both of which could cut Australia’s greenhouse emissions by 5 per cent by 2030. Measures include better managing fire and grazing, controlling feral animal populations, reducing land clearing and encouraging regrowth of native vegetation.

Several of these practices—reducing land clearing, managing wildfires and controlling feral animals—cost less than an estimated AU $20 per tonne of carbon, which is significantly lower than other types of carbon reduction methods such as underground carbon storage. Additionally, extending the practical actions the study recommends would deliver economic benefits by creating ongoing jobs to manage these activities, particularly in remote areas.

Dr Michael Looker from The Nature Conservancy said that taking the practical actions outlined in the study would produce a win-win-win for Australians by reducing climate pollution, protecting our iconic Outback and potentially creating jobs.

Better management and conservation of the Outback will also help reduce the rapid rate of extinction of Australia’s native animals and plants.

Download the report here. (1.2Mb PDF)

Find out more about how protecting our natural environment can help combat climate change.

Wild Australia is a joint project of the Pew Environment Group and The Nature Conservancy that works to protect large tracts of Australia’s unique terrestrial and marine environment.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading global conservation organization working around the world to conserve ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. During The Conservancy’s 10 year history in Australia, it has helped protect more than 3.6 million hectares of biodiversity rich land with a priority focus on Northern Australia and the South West. It has also invested over $33 million to partner organizations for conservation works including active land management and fire control. 

The Pew Environment Group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a non-governmental organization that applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life.