Greenhouse gas emissions
Water vapour is the most common greenhouse gas. However, three other greenhouse gases contribute to human-induced climate change:
For purposes of measurement, all greenhouse gases are converted to a common unit, called CO2 equivalent (CO2e)
Apart from water vapour, there are six main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.
Many greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, and nitrous oxide) occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others are human-made (synthetic).
Synthetic greenhouse gases, used in industry or created as a by-product of industrial processes, include chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons, as well as sulfur hexafluoride.
Increases of the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), primarily results from burning petrol, coal, oil, and natural gas (in cars, industry, and electricity generation), and from certain land-use activities (such as clearing trees and ploughing the soil). While many sources release carbon dioxide, there are also 'sinks' of carbon dioxide - that absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. For example, plants remove carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis, and oceans absorb carbon dioxide.
Victoria's greenhouse profile
Of the greenhouse gases emitted in Victoria, carbon dioxide is the most significant, though methane emitted from livestock, agricultural activities and industrial processes, and nitrous oxide, also make a significant contribution.
In 2005, approximately 6.73 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (CO2e) were removed through afforestation and reforestation works (eg. creation of carbon sinks) in Victoria.
In 2005, Victoria’s total net greenhouse gas emissions were 121.87 million tonnes (CO2e). Victoria’s total emissions are higher than some nations, including other industrialised countries with significantly higher populations, such as Austria, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.
Victoria’s high emissions totals result from our reliance on brown coal, a greenhouse gas intensive fuel, for electricity production. Ninety per cent of Victoria's electricity is produced from brown coal. Together, Victoria’s coal-fired power stations produced 54.8% of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.
Victorian greenhouse gas inventory
Greenhouse gas inventories present data on emissions of a range of greenhouse gases, and on the removal of these gases from the atmosphere by 'sinks'. The emissions and removals recorded in these inventories relate to human activity. The data is categorised by sector, and presented for different kinds of industry and activity.
The 2005 inventory is the most up-to-date information on Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions available. The data presented in this document are derived from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which is prepared in a format consistent with international guidelines. This inventory supersedes all previous Victorian inventories.
The information identifies Victoria’s contribution to national greenhouse gas emissions, and reveals the relative contribution of different sectors to total emissions, along with trends over time.
The Victorian Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2005 presents a summary of the level and trends in greenhouse gas emissions sources and sinks in the state of Victoria for the years 1990, 1995, and 2000-2005.
Information Sheet - 2005 VGGI (PDF - 123 Kb)
