Firefighters attempt to extinguish wildfires on the Central Coast, Australia. (Photo: AFP / VNA)

According to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Sydney, in a report submitted to the Independent Investigation Committee for Forest Fire on April 21, the Australian Ministry of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources said that fire in the summer last year in the country. has burned about 7.4 million hectares of temperate forests and emitted 830 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, nearly double the annual emissions from the country's energy, industry and transportation industries. .

The report, however, states that forest fires will not significantly affect Australia's progress towards reducing emissions targets in 2020 and 2030 under Kyoto and Paris agreements on climate change due to the amount of gas. Additional emissions will not be calculated based on the assumption that the additional emissions will be fully reabsorbed by regenerated trees, unless there is a change in land use in the burnt areas.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said that 90% of the areas affected by wildfires are located in national parks and other conservation areas or in state forests used for logging purposes.

The Ministry of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources report estimates that forests affected by forest fires will be fully restored and the Ministry will actively monitor the affected areas to ensure this recovery.

The report adds 96% of emissions from forest fires in the Canberra area during the summer of 2002-2003 were reabsorbed, the part that was not fully absorbed due to changes in surrounding land use around Canberra after the fire.

Australia currently emits about 530 million tons of CO2 per year./