Emissions Overview 2009

Stationary Energy - 79 million tonnes (49% of total emissions)

Stationary energy emissions have grown steadily from 1990 as the New South Wales population increases and our economy expands.

Burning fossil fuels accounts for over 99% of emissions in the sector. Coal combustion alone produces 65 million tonnes of emissions annually or more than 40 per cent of all NSW greenhouse gas emissions.

Although emissions have declined due to the global financial crisis and an increase in gas fired generation, demand for electricity is forecast to continue to grow by about 1.8 per cent annually to 2020 and beyond [ii].

Even if we achieve our target for renewable energy, emissions from electricity generation are forecast to keep growing to 2020 and beyond.

Source: Australian greenhouse emissions information system

Transport - 22 million tonnes (14% of total emissions)

Transport emissions are currently the second largest component of NSW greenhouse gas emissions.

The major source of transport emissions is road transport which accounts for 90% of all NSW transport emissions. This reflects the importance of motor vehicles for both passenger and freight transport within the state.

Since 1990 emissions have increased by 3.8 Mt but have remained steady since 2000.

Source: Australian greenhouse emissions information system

Fugitive emissions - 20 million tonnes (14% of total emissions)

The fugitive emissions sector includes emissions from coal mining and oil & gas recovery, transport and storage. Fugitive emissions in NSW are dominated by emissions from coal mining (97% of all fugitive emissions).

Most fugitive emissions in NSW come from underground (13.5 Mt) and surface (5.4 Mt) coal mines.

Fugitive emissions are growing strongly. Since 2003, fugitive emissions have grown on average 4% per annum driven by increased demand for coal and expanding mine production.

NSW coal mine production is forecast to grow strongly over the next decade. Fugitive emissions from coal mining are likely to increase by more than 50% by 2020 [iii].

Source: Australian greenhouse emissions information system

Industrial processes - 11 million tonnes (7% of total emissions)

Emissions accounted for in the industrial processes category include a variety of primarily chemical processes involved in industrial production from a wide range of industries including: iron and steel; cement clinker; lime production; limestone and dolomite use; chemical manufacturing and aluminium production.

Industrial process emissions have fallen by 14 per cent since 2000. 

Source: Australian greenhouse emissions information system

Agriculture - 16 million tonnes (10% of total emissions)

The primary source of agricultural emissions is methane produced as cows and sheep digest their food, known as enteric fermentation. These emissions account for three quarters of all NSW agricultural emissions (12 Mt).

Emissions from agriculture have fallen by 30% since 1990. Since 2000, agricultural emissions have declined on average by over 3% per annum as a result of declining production associated with prolonged drought conditions across much of the state. For example sheep numbers have fallen by over 40% since 2000.

To 2020 agricultural emissions are forecast to either remain stable or increase slightly as livestock numbers recover from the prolonged drought conditions.

Source: Australian greenhouse emissions information system

Waste - 5 million tonnes (3% of total emissions)

Waste emissions are divided into solid waste disposal on land (landfills), which accounts for most waste emissions (4.2 Mt), and wastewater handling (sewage treatment).

Since 1990 emissions from waste have decreased by a quarter as increased waste associated with growing populations and industrial production have been offset by higher recycling rates and methane recovery at landfills.

Source: Australian greenhouse emissions information system

 Land use change and forestry - 6 million tonnes (3% of total emissions)

Emissions from land clearing and forestry combine emissions from deforestation with carbon sequestered from reforestation activities.

Emissions from land clearing have fallen dramatically since 1990. In 1990 over 24 million tonnes of greenhouse gases were emitted because of land clearing. Since then changes to the management of land clearing have reduced land clearing emissions by over 50 per cent.

At the same time forest plantings for carbon sequestration projects have emerged as a new industry capable of helping NSW reduce our total greenhouse gas emissions. In 2009 alone over 2 million tonnes of greenhouse gases were sequestered in NSW forestry projects.

Note that estimates of emissions from land use change and forestry relies on detailed modelling based on satellite observations and has much greater uncertainties than emissions estimates from all other sectors.

Source: State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2009