This technical update provides information on how net greenhouse gas emissions from bushfires affecting Australia’s temperate forests are estimated and reported to meet Australia's international commitments. It focusses on the 2019-20 bushfire season in Australia.

Key points:

• Bushfires release significant amounts of carbon dioxide, but generally recover over time, generating a significant carbon sink in the years following the fire.
• Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts include carbon emissions and post-fire sequestration associated with bushfires, based on satellite monitoring of fires across Australia and advanced carbon modelling of fire-prone ecosystems.
• Consistent with international rules and international practice, the national inventory used to track progress towards the Government’s targets applies the natural disturbances provision in reporting net emissions from infrequent, extreme bushfires in temperate forests, which are beyond control.
• To ensure transparency, all net emissions data – both with and without the natural disturbances provision - will be reported in the Government’s annual submission under the Paris Agreement.