Greenhouse gas emissions from Australia's biggest polluters on the rise

According to new figures from Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator, eight of the country’s top 10 largest polluters increased their greenhouse gas emissions during the past financial year. An Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) analysis of that data found that big energy companies dominated the top 10, prompting the group to call for a government plan to close the dirtiest coal-fired plants. The ACF said energy company AGL was the biggest polluter in the country. Energy Australia and GDF Suez, which both own giant brown coal power plants, came in second and third, followed by mining company Rio Tinto, Origin Energy, power generation company Stanwell, Alcoa, CS Energy, another miner Glencore and gas and oil company Woodside. Last year Australia's greenhouse gas emissions rose for the first time in a decade. 

Greenhouse gas emissions from Australia's biggest companies are on the rise.

Eight of the top 10 largest polluters increased their greenhouse gas emissions during the past financial year, according to a new analysis.

Eight of the top 10 largest polluters increased their greenhouse gas emissions during the past financial year. Credit: Fairfax Media

Overall the federal government's Clean Energy Regulator says that reported direct emissions were up 2 per cent in the year to June 2015, when compared to the previous 12 months.

An Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) analysis of that data - which was released late on Friday - found that big energy players continue to dominate the top 10, prompting the green group to call for a government plan to close the dirtiest coal-fired power plants.