1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/02/2004   
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Contents >> Energy >> Energy and the environment

Greenhouse gas emission

Fossil fuel combustion is the major contributor to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Table 17.25 shows that the electricity supply industry accounts for nearly half of total energy-related emissions, and that emissions in this industry grew by 25% between 1992-93 and 1997-98. Direct emissions by households contributed around 13% in 1997-98, with most of these emissions due to motor vehicle use. Other significant direct emitters of greenhouse gases included manufacturing of iron and steel; mining; manufacturing of basic non-ferrous metals and products; air and space transport; and road transport (excluding household motor vehicle use). Combined emissions from this group of industries accounted for nearly 20% of energy-related emissions in 1997-98.

17.25 PRODUCTION OF ENERGY-RELATED GREENHOUSE GASES(a), By industry
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
Change from 1992-93 to 1997-98
Gg CO2-e(b)
Gg CO2-e(b)
Gg CO2-e(b)
Gg CO2-e(b)
Gg CO2-e(b)
Gg CO2-e(b)
%
Agriculture; hunting and trapping; forestry and fishing
6,053
6,252
6,518
6,737
6,988
7,188
18.8
Mining
10,986
11,237
12,295
13,271
14,596
15,136
37.8
Manufacturing
52,431
52,934
55,665
56,603
55,437
57,166
9.0
Electricity and gas
135,987
137,164
142,412
148,256
153,611
169,562
24.7
Construction
4,293
4,419
4,582
4,809
4,819
4,958
15.5
Transport
25,443
26,332
29,111
30,708
31,415
30,939
21.6
Services
7,781
7,997
8,325
8,610
8,823
9,063
16.5
Household production
42,194
42,990
44,051
44,361
45,286
45,587
8.0
Total
285,168
289,325
302,959
313,355
320,975
339,597
19.1
(a) Excludes fugitive emissions.
(b) Gigagrams of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e).
Note: Due to varying classification systems, definitional differences, and various states of revision of data sources, figures will not necessarily reconcile with other data sources. Statistics of greenhouse gas emissions are also available for 1999 from AGO 2000.
Source: Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounts, Australia, 1992-93 to 1997-98 (4604.0).
Graph - 17.26 Greenhouse gas emissions, By final use - 1996-97

While table 17.25 presents the direct generation of greenhouse gases by the energy-using industry group or sector, graph 17.26 shows that, in 1996-97, the bulk of Australia's energy-related greenhouse gases were emitted in the production and consumption of goods and services for the purpose of household final consumption (about 56%). A further 25% of energy-related emissions were generated in the production of goods and services for export. Other final use categories (general government final consumption, and gross fixed capital formation) were responsible for the remaining emissions.

Graphs 17.27, 17.28 and 17.29 show the contributions that the production or consumption of various goods and services make towards Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. The consumption of electricity by households indirectly produced the greatest amount of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (17%). This was followed by direct emissions by households (14%), most of which is due to the consumption of motor vehicle fuels (graph 17.27). The most significant contributor to energy-related greenhouse gas emissions resulting from production of goods and services for export is basic non-ferrous metals and products (6% of total energy-related greenhouse gases) (graph 17.28). A significant proportion of emissions is also attributed to buildings and other construction, such as roads, irrigation systems, oil refineries, and water and gas supply systems, that contain high levels of embodied energy (about 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions) (graph 17.29).

Graph - 17.27 Greenhouse gases induced by households, Contributions by product consumed - 1996-97


Graph - 17.28 Greenhouse gases induced by exports, Contributions by producing industry - 1996-97

Graph - 17.29 Emissions induced by other final uses, Contribution by final use - 1996-97


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