Greenhouse Sources
Discussion
An examination of what economic activities are responsible for greenhouse emissions can give an idea of what we need to do to transform our economies into low emission ones.
Australian Emissions
What economic activities are responsible for Australia's greenhouse gas emissions?
An examination of the various activities responsible for Australia's greenhouse gas emissions can give us some idea of what cut-backs can be made and where, and what economic or indeed cultural restructuring may be required, if Australia is to significantly reduce its emissions.
Much of Australia's greenhouse emissions are due to electricity generation. Electricity generators in Victoria are especially greenhouse intensive because they run on brown coal. Tasmania's hydro-power, on the other hand, causes minimal greenhouse emissions.
Australian Greenhouse Emissions by General Sector
Greenhouse Emissions |
Aggregate Mt CO2e |
Per Capita t CO2e |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia |
1990 |
2003 |
1990 |
2003 |
Total |
544 |
550 |
31.9 |
27.7 |
Energy |
286 |
374 |
16.8 |
18.8 |
Industrial Processes |
28 |
32 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
Agriculture |
94 |
97 |
5.5 |
4.9 |
Land Use Change and Forestry (net) |
126 |
35 |
7.4 |
1.8 |
Waste |
10 |
11 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Energy |
286 |
374 |
16.8 |
18.8 |
Stationary Energy |
195 |
268 |
11.5 |
13.5 |
Transport |
62 |
80 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
Fugitive Emissions |
29 |
26 |
1.7 |
1.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Population (m) |
17.1 |
19.9 |
|
|
Sources:
Australian Greenhouse Office - National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2003
Australian Historical Population Statistics - Population Size and Growth
Australia per capita greenhouse emissions in 1999 (t CO2e)
|
Stationary energy |
Transport energy |
Industrial process |
Biosphere (c) |
Waste |
Total |
Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
0.40 |
0.35 |
|
6.90 |
|
7.65 |
Mining: non-energy |
0.68 |
0.13 |
|
|
|
0.81 |
Mining export energy |
1.34 |
0.04 |
|
|
|
1.38 |
Manufacturing |
6.14 |
0.38 |
0.55 |
|
0.34 |
7.41 |
Construction, water, etc |
0.30 |
0.21 |
|
|
0.11 |
0.62 |
Commercial/institutional |
2.46 |
0.04 |
|
|
0.17 |
2.67 |
Residential (a) |
3.32 |
1.84 |
|
|
0.25 |
5.41 |
Other (b) |
0.29 |
1.3 |
|
0.15 |
|
1.74 |
Total |
14.93 |
4.29 |
0.55 |
7.05 |
0.87 |
27.69 |
(a) Includes travel to and from work and travel for private purposes by private motor vehicles.
(b) Includes combustion of solvents, military eergy use, unallocated frieght and passenger transport and land use change not allocated to agriculture.
(c) Biosphere includes agriculture and land use change and forestry emissions and removals.
Australia 1999 estimated population: 18.926 million.
Sources:
Australia's National Greenhouse Inventory 1990, 1995, 1999 - End Use Allocation of Emissions
Australian Historical Population Statistics - Population Size and Growth
Australia 1999 Electricity Consumption - public grid and private supply
GWh |
PJ |
kWh / person / day |
MJ / person / day |
kg CO2e / kWh |
t CO2 e / person / year |
166772 |
600.4 |
24.13 |
86.9 |
1.074 |
9.47 |
Australia public grid electricity 1999
|
GWh |
population |
kWh / person / day |
kg CO2e / kWh |
t CO2e / person / year |
NSW+ACT |
59544 |
6.724 |
24.2 |
1.012 |
8.96 |
VIC |
36314 |
4.686 |
21.2 |
1.444 |
11.19 |
QLD |
33268 |
3.501 |
26.0 |
1.079 |
10.25 |
SA |
10456 |
1.498 |
19.1 |
1.186 |
8.28 |
WA |
11407 |
1.850 |
16.9 |
1.114 |
6.87 |
TAS |
9225 |
0.471 |
53.6 |
0.002 |
0.04 |
NT |
1549 |
0.199 |
21.3 |
0.654 |
5.09 |
Australia |
161763 |
18.926 |
23.4 |
1.080 |
9.23 |
Readings
World Emissions
What are the sources of greenhouse gases in the world?
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide levels Highest on Record (DOC) , World Meteorological Organisation, 2006.11.3
The 35.4% rise in carbon dioxide since the late 1700s has largely been generated by emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Around one third of N2O discharged into the air is a result of human activities such as fuel combustion, biomass burning, ferilizer use and some industrial processes.
Human activity such as fossil fuel exploitation, rice agriculture, biomass burning, landfills and runimant farm animals account for some 60% of atmospheric CH4, with natural processes including those produced by wetlands and termites responsible for the remaining 40%.
Links
Australian Greenhouse Gas Emissions - AusStats
Australian Residential Building Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2010
Greenhouse gas emissions in industrialised countries: Where does Australia stand? - PDF - Hal Turton, Australia Institute, June 2004 - Australians have the highest greenhouse gas emissions per person of all industrial countries.
2007.2.23