A common trend I noticed is that councils have emissions declining since 2005 with some stating this trend has reversed in recent years. Is there a way we can better understand the extent of the trends?

The main reason for downward trends in emissions is the decarbonisation of grid electricity. This is more prevalent in some states more than others. For example, in South Australia, the shift to renewable energy in the grid results in a reduction in electricity emissions throughout the whole state. In other states this trend is not as noticeable. Please note that historical data should only be used as a trend. More detailed analysis is required for specific council areas and sectoral changes.