Federal Labor has accused the government of taking comfort from the wind-down of Australia's car industry while spruiking its achievable carbon emissions target.
New environment department figures show Australia's five per cent emissions reduction goal is closer than previously projected as electricity demand continues to fall.
That's mainly due to changing consumer consumption, falling coal prices and a decline in the manufacturing sector.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt says the figures show Australia will easily meet its emissions goal by 2020.
But opposition environment spokesman Mark Butler says the government is taking "some comfort" in significant parts of the manufacturing industry winding down thanks to its own decisions.
The figures show the abatement task has fallen almost 45 per cent over the past two years, from the 421 million tonnes estimated in 2013 to 236 million tonnes.
The government plans to slash those emissions with its $2.55 billion direct action policy, through which companies bid to carry out projects that cut emissions.
The Australian Greens accused the government of fudging the figures, using a previous under-spend on negotiated emissions to offset the 2020 goal and create a "fake achievement".
"Mr Hunt may be able to delude himself into believing he's making a meaningful cut in pollution, but he isn't fooling anyone else," Greens leader Christine Milne said.
In any case, the five per cent target was "grossly inadequate".
The Climate Institute is sceptical the government's carbon emissions toolbox can reach the five per cent target, especially as parts like safeguards on large emitters don't yet exist.
Direct action on its own was not up the task, it said.
"It's not much use to say that the job has got easier when you still don't have the tools to do it properly," chief executive John Connor said.
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