Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

20210626 Variwide chart of greenhouse gas emissions per capita by country.

Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia totalled 533 million tonnes CO2-equivalent based on greenhouse gas national inventory report data for 2019; representing per capita CO2e emissions of 21 tons,[2] three times the global average. Coal was responsible for 30% of emissions. The national Greenhouse Gas Inventory estimates for the year to March 2021 were 494.2 million tonnes, which is 27.8 million tonnes, or 5.3%, lower than the previous year. It is 20.8% lower than in 2005 (the baseline year for the Paris Agreement). According to the government, the result reflects the decrease in transport emissions due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, reduced fugitive emissions, and reductions in emissions from electricity; however, there were increased greenhouse gas emissions from the land and agriculture sectors.[3]

Australia uses principally coal power for electricity, accounting for 66% of grid-connected electricity generation in 2020,[4] but this is rapidly decreasing with a growing share of renewables making up the energy supply mix, and most existing coal-fired power station scheduled to cease operation between 2022 and 2048.[5] Emissions by the country have started to fall and are expected to continue to fall in coming years as more renewable projects come online.[6]

natural gas projects, refused to increase its 2030 domestic emissions target, and is not on track to meet its current target.[7]

Climate change in Australia is caused by greenhouse gas emissions, and the country is generally becoming hotter, and more prone to extreme heat, bushfires, droughts, floods and longer fire seasons because of climate change.[8]

Contribution

Total contributions

The Australian government calculates that Australia's net emissions (including Land use, land-use change, and forestry) for the 12-month period to September 2020 were 510.10 million tonnes CO2-equivalent. The sectoral contributions based on the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report metrics were as follows: electricity 170.36Mt, 33.4%; stationary energy (excluding electricity) 101.83Mt, 20.%; transport 89.83Mt, 17.6%; agriculture 72.04Mt, 14.1%; fugitive emissions 51.23Mt, 10.0%; industrial processes 30.29Mt, 5.9%; waste 13.28Mt, 2.6%, and LULUCF -18.76Mt, -3.7% (due to carbon sequestration).[9]

In 2017, the electricity sector emissions totaled 190 million tons, of which 20 million tons was for primary industry, 49 million tons for manufacturing (which might include aluminum smelting), 51 million tons Commercial, Construction and Transport, and 33 million tons Residential.[10]

The Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) indicated in 2006 that the

Australian Federal Government’s National Carbon Accounting System (NCAS) between 1990 and 2001.[12]

Cumulative historical contribution

The

LULUCF relative to other countries, it is likely the net cumulative contribution proportion of Australia is much lower.[14][failed verification
]

Projected contribution

According to the no-mitigation scenario in the Garnaut Climate Change Review, Australia's share of world emissions, at 1.5% in 2005, declines to 1.1% by 2030, and to 1% by 2100.[15]

Responsibility

Cumulative (since 1850) and projected (2030) national and regional contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.[16]
Australia Greenhouse emission of gas from 1990 - 2016

According to the polluter pays principle, the polluter has ecological and financial responsibility for the climate change consequences. The climate change is caused cumulatively and today's emissions will have effect for decades forward.

Co2 emissions per capita from 2018.

The CO2 emissions per capita was 15.22-15.37 tonnes in 2020, which made Australia the 11th largest [[CO2 emissions per capita]] just ahead of the United Arab Emirates and United States.(Citation 15 does not match new data)[17]

Emission sources

Some of the reasons for Australia's high levels of emissions include:

  • In 2020, 73.5% of electricity was generated from fossil fuels (66% of electricity was generated from coal, and 7.5% from gas).[4]
  • A warm climate results in high use of air conditioning.
  • Agriculture, such as methane from sheep and cow belches.[18]
  • High levels of automobile and aeroplane use among the population.
  • Continued deforestation.[19]

Production and export of carbon products

Australian emissions are monitored on a production rather than a consumption basis. This means that the emissions from the manufacture of goods imported into and consumed within Australia, for example many motor vehicles, are allocated to the country of manufacture. Similarly, Australia produces aluminium for export, which emits carbon dioxide during refining.[20] While the aluminium is mainly consumed overseas, the emissions of its production are allocated to Australia.

Coal

In 2018 Australia was the world's 2nd largest exporter of coal.[21] Australia is the world's largest exporter of metallurgical coal accounting for 55% of the world's supply in 2019.[22]

LNG

Australia became the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in 2020.[23][24]

Mitigation (technology aspects)

Mitigation of global warming involves taking actions to reduce

Scientific consensus on global warming
, together with the precautionary principle and the fear of non-linear climate transitions, is leading to increased effort to develop new technologies and sciences and carefully manage others in an attempt to mitigate global warming.

In order to make a significant change, coal from Australia needs to be replaced with alternatives.[25]

solar thermal technologies. Accelerating deployment of these technologies provides opportunities for mitigating greenhouse gases.[27]

A

carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over 25,000 tonnes annually) to pay a price for emissions permits. The tax was scrapped by the Abbott government
in 2014 in what was a widely criticized and highly publicized move.

Coal

Coal in Australia is a large emitter

Coal is the most polluting of all

Victoria.[32] In order to have significant effects on greenhouse gas emissions, there needs to be a replacement of coal with alternatives.[33]

Reduction in the mining, use and export of coal is favored by environmental groups such as

coal fired power stations. Coal was responsible for 30% (164 million tonnes) of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, not counting methane and export coal, based on 2019 GHG inventory.[34]

Two forms of

baseload power generation
.

Carbon capture and storage

The Rudd-Gillard government stated support for research into carbon capture and storage CCS as a possible solution to rising greenhouse gas emissions.[35] CCS is an integrated process, made up of three distinct parts: carbon capture, transport, and storage (including measurement, monitoring and verification).[28] Capture technology aims to produce a concentrated stream of CO2 that can be compressed, transported, and stored. Transport of captured CO2 to storage locations is most likely to be via pipeline. Storage of the captured carbon is the final part of the process. The vast majority of CO2 storage is expected to occur in geological sites on land, or below the seabed.

However, according to the Greenpeace False Hope Report, CCS cannot deliver in time to avoid a dangerous increase in world temperatures.

The Report also states that CCS wastes energy, and uses between 10 and 40% of the energy produced by a power station.[36] It also asserts that CCS is expensive, potentially doubling plant costs, and is very risky, as permanent storage cannot be guaranteed.

Nuclear energy

Australia has approximately 40% of the world's

Life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions from nuclear power
are low.

The only nuclear reactor in Australia is currently operated by ANSTO in the Sydney suburb of Lucas Heights. The main argument against building more is that the cost of electricity from new nuclear is more expensive than new solar power.[38] Other perceived problems include that enriched uranium can also be used as a nuclear weapon, prompting security issues such as nuclear proliferation. Also, nuclear waste requires extensive waste management because it can remain radioactive for centuries.

Renewable energy

hydro-electricity the largest single contributor and wind power a close second.[39] Initiatives are also being taken with ethanol fuel and geothermal energy exploration.[40]

Renewable energy targets

Vast solar potential is little used[41] except on rooftops[42]

Moving towards long-term mitigation policies is a requirement of government, and the Australian energy sectors remains a central area in national emissions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reviewed the Australian energy sectors policies in 2018,[43] the findings identified needed improvements to the country's emissions reduction targets, and further the energy sectors resilience. The IEA identified needed improvements in government leadership by establishing a well-defined long-term integrated energy policy and climate toolkit for policy development and deployment.

The Australian Government has announced a

mandatory renewable energy target (MRET) to ensure that renewable energy obtains a 20% share of electricity supply in Australia by 2020. To ensure this, the government has committed that the MRET will increase from 9,500 gigawatt-hours to 45,000 gigawatt-hours by 2020. After 2020 the proposed ETS and improved efficiencies from innovation and in manufacture are expected to allow the MRET to be phased out by 2030.[44]

Following the introduction of government Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets,

greenhouse gases
.

Solar power

By 2020 installed solar power by country was more in each of Italy, Japan and Germany than Australia despite their lower potentials.

Wind power

The information centre near the base of one of the towers at Wattle Point Wind Farm

Wind farms are highly compatible with agricultural and pastoral land use.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy is energy produced from biomass. Biomass is material produced by photosynthesis, or is an organic by-product from a waste stream. Thus it can be seen as stored solar energy.[29] In terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, biomass offers four different types of contribution:

  • liquid and gaseous biofuels can substitute for oil in transportation;
  • biomass can be used in place of many greenhouse intensive materials;
  • biomass can be converted to biochar, an organic char coal that greatly enhances the ability of soil to sequester carbon.[29]

Sustainable energy expert Mark Diesendorf suggests that bioenergy could produce 39% of Australia's electricity generation.[29][needs update]

Solar heat and electricity

solar hot water could cost-effectively provide the vast majority of hot water systems in Australia, and make considerable reductions in residential electricity consumption.[29] Solar electricity's potential scale of application is huge and its prospects for further substantial cost reductions are excellent.[48]

Energy efficiency

The most important energy saving options include improved thermal insulation and building design, super efficient electrical machines and drives, and a reduction in energy consumption by vehicles used for goods and passenger traffic. Industrialized countries such as Australia, which currently use energy in the least efficient way, can reduce their consumption drastically without the loss of either housing comfort or amenity.[49] Increased energy efficiency of buildings had the support of the former leader of the federal opposition, Malcolm Turnbull.[50]

Energy storage