Overview of Industrial Emissions in Australia: Current Scenario and Rapid Growth of Industries

In this case study we will discuss about industrial emission in australia and below are the summaries point:- Australia's greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 1.8% in 2018, largely due to an increase in LNG exports, stationary energy emissions, and fugitive emissions. The country's emissions reduction target is insufficient to meet the Paris climate agreement targets, and if emissions continue at the current rate, Australia will exhaust its carbon budget before 2030. Electricity and transport are the two largest sources of GHG emissions in Australia, with the former accounting for over 35% and the latter over 20% of emissions.

Running head: OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL EMISSION IN AUSTRALIA
OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL EMISSION IN AUSTRALIA
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1OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL EMISSION IN AUSTRALIA
Current scenario of Australia's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Australia greenhouse gas emissions rate has increased by 1.8% in 2018 from 2017,
majorly raised by elevating level of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports which further has
caused an increase in stationary energy emissions and fugitive emissions. Reports of Head et al.
(2014) have revealed that Australia GHG emissions increased for the last 3 years reaching over
550.4MtCO2e in 2017. However McInnes et al. (2015) have noted that Australia's emissions
reduction target shows severe insufficiency in order to safeguard Australians from the
intensifying climate change. Moreover Australia’s 28-30% emission reduction target aimed for
2030 on a 2006 baseline has been highly inadequate in order to obtain the Paris climate
agreement targets. Furthermore if Australia's GHG emissions tend to sustain at the current rates
then the country would comprise of only 10 years remaining before they will completely exhaust
carbon budget before 2030 (Climate Council 2019). Moreover if other countries have to
implement climate policies in correspondent to Australia, then the global average temperature
rise could reach over 3°C up to the level of 4°C. The coal seam gas LNG sector further has
maintained electricity emissions at an increased rate in comparison to the expected level, as gas
production tends to consume a significant proportion of electricity (Department of the
Environment and Energy 2019). According to McGuirk, Dowling and Bulkeley (2014) there has
been identified 8 major sectors liable for Australia as GHG emission namely electricity,
industrial processes, waste and land use, stationery energy, transport, fugitive emissions as well
as agriculture along with land use change and forestry.

2OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL EMISSION IN AUSTRALIA
Rapid growth of industries in Australia & Energy consumption by Australian
industries
Electricity has been identified as the largest source of GHG emissions in Australia liable
for over 35% of emissions. The sector has produced around 185 MtCO2e in 2018 which has
been recorded to be 3.5 % lower is estimated in 2017. Moreover reports of
Climatechangeauthority.gov.au (2019) have stated that electricity emissions have reduced by 6.7
% since 2007 when the industry has been liable for 197 MtCO2e. Moreover transport has been
presently the second largest source of emissions in Australia which has been accounted for over
20% of the countries emissions. The industry has reportedly emitted over hundred MtCO2e in
2017 which is over3.5 % as compared to 2016 (Department of the Environment and Energy
2019). It has been noted that the GHG emissions has rapidly increased by 23% since 2005 when
the industry was accounted for emitting 82% MtCO2e. According to McInnes et al. (2015)
transport emissions have been steadily increasing as population growth has lead to an increase
number of cars on road whereas the increased demand for freight has been stimulated by truck
emissions. These factors have led the domestic air travel to increase resulting to a rise in aviation
emissions as well.
On the other hand the agricultural emissions have been expected to rise in 2030 because
of assumed return to average seasonal conditions along with an elevated food demand.
Nevertheless the impact of climate change has increased the propensity that average seasonal
conditions will not return (Head et al. 2014). Moreover as per the reports of Climate Council
(2019) and the current policy settings, Australia shows fewer propensities to attain 22%
reduction below 2005 levels in GHG emissions in the agriculture sector by 2030. Furthermore
the rise in emissions from industrial processes over the last 10 years have been significantly

3OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL EMISSION IN AUSTRALIA
driven by the replacement of ozone depleting substances with other substances known as hydro
fluorocarbons which greenhouse gases. These emissions however have been liable for over 14
MtCO2e which is higher than one third of all emissions from industrial processes in Australia.
Waste emissions have been reported to produce over 13 MtCO2e in 2017 which is around 2%
increase from 2016. Such an increase has been rapidly driven by a rise in emissions from solid
waste disposal because of reduced rates of methane capture and landfills (Department of the
Environment and Energy 2019).
Emissions Contribution by Sector, Australia, Year to December 2017
Source: (Department of the Environment and Energy 2019)
Actions taken by the Australian government to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission
State and Territory governments in the Tasmania, Queensland, and Victoria, New South
Wales along with South Australia have established emission reduction targets of minimum

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hundred percent on 80 emissions by 2050. Reports of McGuirk, Dowling and Bulkeley (2014)
have stated that several states along with territories have further established renewable energy
targets which includes the ACT (100% by 2020), Queensland (50% by 2030) and the North
Territory 50% by 2030.In addition to this, McInnes et al. (2015) have noted that the Federal
government has been presently taking into consideration advanced fuel efficiency as well as
vehicle emission standards which have the capacity to reduce emissions from the transport sector
if properly implemented. Furthermore the national energy productivity plan intends to enhance
Australia as energy efficiency by over 42% between 2015- 2030. McGuirk et al. (2015) have
mentioned that there have been in significant number of policies applied as part of this specific
plan except the clean energy finance corporation investment for energy productivity projects.
Moreover number of states and territory governments has further set up energy productivity and
efficiency programs whereas the Federal government has efficiently established greenhouse and
energy minimum standards for appliances along with energy efficiency requirements for new
non-residential buildings (Climate Council 2019).

5OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL EMISSION IN AUSTRALIA
Australia’s GHG emissions projected to be similar to 2017 levels in 2030
Source: (Department of the Environment and Energy 2019)
At this stage, McInnes et al. (2015) have stated that reducing agriculture emissions by
27% required sector to decrease the cumulative emissions by 2030 by 25%from the current
levels in comparison to business. The Federal Government Emissions Reductions Fund has
efficiently been investing a number of emission reduction programs across several industries
including the Australian agriculture sector. However McGuirk, Dowling and Bulkeley (2014)
have noted that majority of these programs have not yet successfully delivered any emissions
reductions. Moreover only 32 million tonnes of carbon abatement have been reportedly
developed 192 million tonnes which have been contracted under the fund. Emissions reductions
above 27% in the electricity sector have been considered to be realistic and achievable.
Comprehensive studies of McGuirk et al. (2015) have consistently observed that there have been

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no technical obstructions for Australia to acquire a protective, reliable power from a very high
proportion of renewable electricity.
Conclusion
Therefore from the above discussion it can be concluded that Australia requires a
determined and competent GHG emissions reductions target along with the credible climate
policy which includes all industries of the country's financial system. It has been noted that the
Natural Energy Guarantee in its current form has suggested insufficient emissions reductions
from the electricity sector making it highly critical for Australia to acquire even its weakened
emissions reductions target of 26-28% by 2030.

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References
Climate Council 2019. About Us - Climate Council. [online] Climate Council. Available at:
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/about/ [Accessed 3 Feb. 2019].
Climatechangeauthority.gov.au 2019. [online] Climatechangeauthority.gov.au. Available at:
http://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/sites/prod.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/files/files/
CFI/Final-report-Australia-future-emissions-reduction-targets.pdf [Accessed 3 Feb. 2019].
Department of the Environment and Energy 2019. Department of the Environment and Energy.
[online] Department of the Environment and Energy. Available at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science-data/greenhouse-gas-
measurement/publications/quarterly-update-australias-national-greenhouse-gas-inventory-dec-
2017 [Accessed 3 Feb. 2019].
Department of the Environment and Energy 2019. Department of the Environment and Energy.
[online] Department of the Environment and Energy. Available at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science-data/emissions-projections
[Accessed 3 Feb. 2019].
Head, L., Adams, M., McGregor, H.V. and Toole, S., 2014. Climate change and Australia. Wiley
Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5(2), pp.175-197.
McGuirk, P., Dowling, R. and Bulkeley, H., 2014. Repositioning urban governments? Energy
efficiency and Australia’s changing climate and energy governance regimes. Urban
studies, 51(13), pp.2717-2734.

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McGuirk, P., Dowling, R., Brennan, C. and Bulkeley, H., 2015. Urban carbon governance
experiments: the role of Australian local governments. Geographical research, 53(1), pp.39-52.
McInnes, K.L., Church, J., Monselesan, D., Hunter, J.R., O'Grady, J.G., Haigh, I.D. and Zhang,
X., 2015. Information for Australian impact and adaptation planning in response to sea-level
rise. Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Journal, 65(1), pp.127-149.