Energy sector emissions – the main greenhouse pollution source

The burning of coal, oil and gas are the main contributors to increased greenhouse pollution levels and climate change. According to the last Australian Government National Greenhouse Gas Inventory energy consumption accounted for more than 60% of Australia’s greenhouse pollution in 2004.

The energy sector is also the fastest growing source of greenhouse pollution in Australia and emissions have increased by 34% since 1990. Excluding the emission reductions arising from land clearing reductions and forestry, pollution from the energy combustion sector has accounted for 93% of the total increase in emissions since 1990.

Heading for a train wreck – emissions SPIRALLING

The next National Greenhouse Gas Inventory is expected to be released soon. However, this will only cover emissions to 2005. Analysis for the Climate Institute by one of Australia’s leading energy experts shows that between 2004 and first few months of this year that Australia’s energy sector emissions have increased by 22.5 million tonnes. (Figure 1.) This is the equivalent of adding more than five million cars to Australia’s roads, or nearly 50% of the national car fleet.

Figure 1: Increase in Australia's annual energy combustion emissions since 2003-04

Emissions rising faster thAn projected

Worryingly, the pollution increases in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 are also above what the Government projected them to be over the same period. (Figure 2.) This indicates that current Government policies to rein in greenhouse pollution are being swamped by other factors and are not having the impact needed to start to get our emissions under control.

Figure 2: Actual emissions vs government projections (note 2006-2007 only include emissions to Feb 2007)