The statement

"Between 2005 and 2018, Australia reduced its emissions by 13 per cent. Across the ditch, New Zealand's emissions went up by four per cent, and this was achieved using some fancy accounting sidesteps involving forestry."

Professor Judith Sloan, economist, December 15, 2020.

The analysis

As the Australian government faces international pressure to set stricter greenhouse gas emissions targets, it has been suggested the country is doing better than its neighbour, New Zealand.

Australia was controversially not given a speaking spot at a recent UN climate change summit, while the government was criticised for not committing to a net-zero emissions target.

Writing in The Australian newspaper on December 15, contributing economics editor Judith Sloan said New Zealand and Canada had also not been given speaking slots at the summit and suggested Australia was, in reality, doing better than its Commonwealth cousins, despite their governments declaring climate change emergencies.

"So let's take a look at the facts," Prof Sloan wrote. "Between 2005 and 2018, Australia reduced its emissions by 13 per cent. Across the ditch, New Zealand's emissions went up by four per cent, and this was achieved using some fancy accounting sidesteps involving forestry."

AAP FactCheck examined the claim Australia's emissions have reduced while New Zealand's have increased during this period.

Read the full article on the Canberra Times website, featuring Hon. Assoc. Prof Hugh Saddler