Emissions goal still high per capita

Even if Australia meets its post-2020 emissions reduction target, the nation would still be one of the highest emitters per capita, a department says.

The Environment Department has confirmed Australia would still be one of the worst carbon emitters per person in the world even if it meets its post-2020 targets.

Australia pledged to slash CO2 emissions by 26 to 28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030, which the federal government has trumpeted as one of the largest cuts per capita in the developed world.

But Environment Department secretary Gordon de Brouwer told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday that "significant" reduction would still leave Australia as one of the highest emitters per capita in the world.