❓ Question regarding the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) accounting of emissions from bushfires and prescribed burns, highlighting the difference between wild and controlled fires. The answer reveals DEC tracks areas burned but not emissions from wildfires, aligning with national and international reporting standards focusing on anthropogenic emissions.
AnsweredQoN 5452Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Forest and bush fires have the potential to affect global climate change because of the significant emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. It has been noted that emissions from wild or uncontrolled fires are greater than prescribed burns or controlled fires, and I ask -
(1) Does the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) account for emissions from wild/uncontrolled fires and prescribed/controlled burns?
(2) In no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), has DEC noted a difference in emissions from wild/uncontrolled fires and prescribed/controlled burns?
(4) If yes to (1), what was the total amount of emissions as a result of escaped burns in each of the years 2000 to 2011 inclusive?
(1) Does the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) account for emissions from wild/uncontrolled fires and prescribed/controlled burns?
(2) In no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), has DEC noted a difference in emissions from wild/uncontrolled fires and prescribed/controlled burns?
(4) If yes to (1), what was the total amount of emissions as a result of escaped burns in each of the years 2000 to 2011 inclusive?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
(1)-(4) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) accounts for the areas covered by bushfires on land it manages, but does not account for emissions generated from these fires.
Emissions data for DEC's prescribed burns are calculated annually.
The exclusion of emissions from wild/uncontrolled fires is consistent with national reporting arrangements and Australia's commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to account for only anthropogenic emissions and removals.
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Emissions data for DEC's prescribed burns are calculated annually.
The exclusion of emissions from wild/uncontrolled fires is consistent with national reporting arrangements and Australia's commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to account for only anthropogenic emissions and removals.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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