Greenhouse reporting

Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2009

Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, including emissions from Land use, Land use Change and Forestry, totaled 69.9 megatones (Mt) of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent (Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, 2011), accounting for approximately 12.4% of the national emissions. The breakdown of Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by source is shown below.

The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is due to the consumption and production of energy, which contributed approximately 75% of the State's total emissions. This source comprises emissions from Stationary Energy (emissions from the production of electricity and direct combustion of fossil fuels in industries such as manufacturing and construction), Transport Energy (emissions from road, rail, air and shipping transportation), and Fugitive emissions (emissions from extraction and distribution of coal, oil and natural gas). Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry activities removed 7.2 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere in 2009, due mainly to the establishments of plantations in Western Australia and the decrease in land clearing. The waste sector showed a 15.6 % decrease in emissions (compared to 1990 figures) largely due to improvements in waste management. A summary of percentage contributions by source to Western Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions is provided below.

Since 1990, Western Australia's net emissions have increased by approximately 18.7%. Most of this increase occurred within the energy sector. The largest relative increase in emissions is due to industrial processes (182.6%) and is mostly due to growth in emissions associated with the consumption of halocarbons and the chemical industry. Emissions from the energy sector increased by approximately 80.3% and agricultural emissions increased by approximately 3.4%.

Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by sector between 1990 and 2009

(Source: Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, 2011)

The Western Australian Government recognises that human activity is having a discernible influence on the planet's climate patterns, and the need to take prudent but sensible actions to control our greenhouse gas emissions.

Useful resources

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency's National and State and Territory greenhouse gas inventory publications are available from: www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-change/emissions.aspx

The Australian Greenhouse Emissions Information System (AGEIS) that provides emission results from 1990 to 2009 is accessible from: ageis.climatechange.gov.au/  

The Western Australian Government recognises that human activity is having a discernible influence on the planet's climate patterns and recognises the need to take prudent but sensible actions to control our greenhouse gas emissions.