Australia’s climate data to UN questioned as study finds land clearing in Queensland underreported

Australia’s deforestation emissions are likely to be higher than reported at international climate negotiations, conservation scientist Martin Taylor says. Photograph: Auscape/UIG/Getty Images

Queensland forests are being cleared at almost twice the rate reflected in national greenhouse gas emissions, new analysis suggests, prompting questions about the climate data that Australia reports to the United Nations.

The study of data from Queensland’s statewide landcover and tree study (Slats) shows 455,756 hectares of forests were cleared across the state in 2018-19.