🤔 First Time Here? How to Use this Website

We know climate data can feel overwhelming. Here's an introduction to the OnlyFacts site.

Navigating the Site

This site allows you to explore information in different ways: 

• By Topic: Browse key topics such as Emissions, Energy, Transport, and more.

• By Location: View data specific to Australia, states, territories, LGAs, or postcodes. If no location is selected, the default view is Australia-wide data.

• By Search in Lists: On the list / rankings pages, use the search bar to find the data for a specific location or organisation.

• By Filters on Charts: On charts, click legend items to toggle data series on and off, making it easier to focus on specific trends. 

Example:

• Clicking on Emissions directs you to the Emissions Dashboard for Australia.

• The Geo-Dropdown (top right) allows you to switch to state/territory data where available.

• If a location isn’t listed, it means data isn’t available yet (e.g., WA and NT energy data are missing but will be added soon).

Finding Geolocation Data

A big part of what we do is helping you drill down to the most local data available for every topic.

This can be tricky, as data coverage varies by location. Here’s how you can find the local data you’re looking for:

• Use the navigation menu – At the top of the site, select Data by Location. You'll find categories such as countries, Australia, states and territories, LGAs, and postcodes. Not every dashboard is listed here, so check our Dashboard Index for the full list.

• Look for the location section on each page – By default, dashboards show Australia-wide data. In the top right corner, you'll see a location selector:
  • If it says "Australia" with no dropdown, we only have national-level data for that topic (e.g., Carbon Credits).

• If there's a dropdown, you can switch to state, territory, or other jurisdiction-specific dashboards.

• Check the geolocation indicators on charts and tables in the top right corner of every chart and table.

• We serve the most granular data available. If local data isn’t available, we display the next layer up, with an alert symbol to let you know.
  • For example, Victoria's fuel dashboard shows data for brown coal (above). But the chart and table for black coal shows Australia-level data, because the state does not generate electricity from black coal.

Dashboards & Visuals

Dashboards provide a structured way to explore key topics, offering a mix of charts, tables, and explainers.

• Explainers: If something is essential to understanding the data (e.g., "Emissions data uses MtCO₂-e"), it will be summarised at the top.
• Interactive Charts: Hover over elements for details, and click legend categories to isolate data.
• Tables & Drill-Throughs: Click on categories within tables to see historical data instantly.
• Navigation Links: Related dashboards are linked via buttons—e.g., from the Transport Dashboard, you can go to the EV Dashboard for more details.

Tables & Data History

Tables present detailed data.

• Sorting & Filtering: Click on column headers to sort information.
• Drill-Through Functionality: Click on table rows to access historical data for that category.
• Data History Pages: If a table shows a time series, a triangle icon at the bottom will direct you to the full dataset for further analysis.

• Geo-Dropdown: Explore how the same data compares across different regions.

📌 Tip: Dashboards and data history pages serve different purposes, and some topics have both. Clicking on categories in tables will take you to full data history pages—not dashboards. Use the geolocation dropdown instead to switch between dashboard views.

Charts & Interactive Elements

Charts provide you an immediate view of the big picture, including trends and comparisons.

• Hover for Details: Rolling over charts reveals precise values.
• Click to Filter: Click legend items to toggle data series on and off, making it easier to focus on specific categories.

List & Ranking Pages

For large datasets, some pages display ranked lists to help highlight key insights. Examples include emissions by country and emissions by company.

• Ranking by Category: Data is often presented in order of highest to lowest for better comparison.
• Navigation Tips: Use the search or filters to quickly find specific rankings or locations.

Sharing or Using the Data, Charts, and Content

We make it easy to share and use the data, charts, and content from OnlyFacts.

• Share & Embed: Every table and chart has a share button, allowing you to copy the embed code, download a PNG, or export the data.
• Link to Specific Charts: Want to share a particular chart? Click Open or Copy URL to get a direct link to its individual webpage.

If you’re interested in using our content, data, or charts, read our licensing options and terms and conditions.

Getting Support & Providing Feedback

• Contact Us: We are always evolving—if you have suggestions or requests, we want to hear them. If you have a question, data request, or want to report an issue, please email us.

Final Tip: Stay Updated

We use our email newsletter and social platforms to introduce you to different aspects of the site and showcase its capabilities.

• Sign up for the OnlyFacts newsletter to receive data updates and direct links to relevant dashboards.
• Follow new data releases via our homepage and announcements.
• Connect with us on social media—you’ll find the links in the footer.

We’d love to have you as part of our community—see you there!