WA's contribution

In 2004, Australia's net greenhouse gas emissions were 564.7 million tonnes (Mt), CO₂-equivalent (CO₂-e).

While this represents only 1.4 per cent of global CO₂-e emissions, Australia has the highest per capita emissions in the world.

Australia's high per capita emission level is the result of a number of factors including:

• the dominant use of coal as a fuel in the electricity industry; and
• the impact of international trade patterns, which result in the production in Australia of many goods with high associated emission levels.

Australia has however reduced its per capita emissions over the period 1990 to 2004 by 12.7 per cent from 32.3 to 28.2 tonnes CO₂-e.

Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2004 were 68.5 million tonnes (Mt). This represents about 12.2 per cent of Australia's total emissions. Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 19.5 per cent when compared to its emissions for 1990. The energy sector is the biggest contributor to Western Australia's emissions and this sector continues to grow.

The amount of greenhouse gases emitted in Western Australian by different sectors is shown in the table below. LUC&F stands for land use change and forestry.

Between 1990 and 2004, the land management sector significantly reduced its emissions, mainly due to reduced clearing and increased carbon sequestration from tree plantations. The contribution of this sector in off-setting a portion of the State's emissions as organic carbon sinks will continue to be important for some decades. However, if emissions from the land management sector are excluded, Western Australia's net emissions increased by 46.36 per cent, between 1990 and 2004.