Construction workers build scaffolding at the site of a new apartment tower in Sydney
Construction workers build scaffolding at the site of a new apartment tower in Sydney November 30, 2012. Reuters/Tim Wimborne

Greenhouse gas emissions in Australia fell 1.4 percent in the second year since the carbon price was implemented. The decline in emissions for the year was the largest ever recorded in the last 10 years

According to data released by the Department of Environment, June quarter emissions had increased 0.4 percent but annual emissions indicate that annual emissions recorded until June 2014 had dropped 1.4 percent. The Guardian reported that the period includes the second year of carbon pricing system which was introduced in the country by the former Labour government in 2012. When Prime Minister Tony Abbott won the election, he vowed he will abolish the carbon tax.

During the two years of carbon pricing, emissions reduction had accelerated with a 0.8 percent decline during the first 12 months of the carbon reduction scheme. The latest data showed a 4 percent decline in the energy industry, the sector most affected by carbon pricing.

Greenhouse gas emissions from energy account for one-third of the country's emissions output at 542.6m tonnes in the year to June. The amount has been reduced to 550.2m tonnes in the past 12 months.

The transport sector also saw a drop in emissions by 0.4 percent in the year to June while the agriculture industry emissions fell by 2.6 percent. Industrial processes had recorded fewer emissions by 1.3 percent during the year. Emissions from electricity were peaking in 2008 but the number has steadily declined ever since due to energy efficiency initiatives and the slowdown in Australia's manufacturing sector.

Australia Greens leader Christine Milne said the latest emissions figures only show the world how effective carbon pricing was in reducing pollution. Since it was the biggest fall ever recorded, the carbon price had made it possible, she added.

Milne criticised the Abbott government for taking the "biggest backward step" in dealing with the effects of global warming in Australia. She said the prime minister's scrapping of carbon tax was a huge blow to Australia in terms of lost jobs and clean energy investments.

Australian Conservation Foundatio climate change programme manager Victoria McKenzie-McHarg shares the same view that carbon pricing was effective. She said she has never seen a huge decline and it was an indication that the system was working.