Despite government projections that Australia will miss its 2030 emissions reduction target by 19 per cent, bureaucrats are confident the Paris agreement can be met.
Projections released last December show Australia will cut its emissions by seven per cent on 2005 levels by 2030, which is much lower than the 26 to 28 per cent reduction goal set by the Paris agreement.
But at a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Monday, senior bureaucrat at the Department of Environment and Energy Jo Evans said the projections were overly conservative.
The projections show emissions will increase to 563 megatonnes (Mt) of climate pollution in 2030, up from 534 Mt emitted last year.
"We do remain confident that it's possible to meet the 2030 target," Ms Evans said.
"Despite the growth shown in current projections, our experience has been we are overly conservative in the way that we project the emissions growth.
"Particularly, the renewable energy sector has really far outstripped our expectations year on year."
For example, the take-up rates of electric vehicles were conservatively woven into the projections, she added.
The Paris target would only be missed if there were no policy changes into the future, Ms Evans said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated the coalition will announce further climate policies ahead of the election.
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