Keeping track of greenhouse emissions

Hobart Mercury
18 January 2011, Page: 28

THIS year, The Climate Group is teaming up with The Mercury to release regular weekly greenhouse gas emissions reports specifically for Tasmania.

Through a weekly graphic in this paper, Tasmanians will be able to keep track of how much greenhouse gas the state is emitting from energy use each and every week. The more competitive among us can also log on to see how were going in comparison with other states by going to www.theclimategroup.org/programs/greenhouse-indicator/

We know that tracking things often helps us get to grips with important issues and challenges. Much like regular monitoring of dam levels has helped many Australians become more aware of how precious water is, and more sparing in how they use it, tracking our greenhouse emissions can help us understand their causes and how we can reduce them.

The weekly greenhouse indicator monitors the emissions produced by our non-renewable sources of energy. Here in Tasmania, that means gas used for heating (domestic, commercial and industrial), electricity generation and cooking, as well as petroleum products such as petrol and diesel. It captures around two-thirds of the state's emissions from energy with no other country in the world receiving such up-to-date information.

So what does the indicator tell us about Tasmania? Overall, the story is positive. As today's graphic shows. Tasmania emitted 59 thousand tonnes of greenhouse gas from energy use last week. Around 69% of that was due to the use of petroleum-related products - essentially petrol and diesel. The remaining 31% came from natural gas use.

Compared with other states, both in Australia and around the world, these emissions are low. Per person, this is less than a third of Victoria's emissions. Tasmania is also the only state in Australia to have its weekly emissions from energy regularly come in lower than they were in 1990. The major reason for this is the large proportion of Tasmania's electricity that is generated by renewable sources - this week around 85%.

It is worth being aware that emissions from energy in Tasmania have risen in recent years. While this week's greenhouse indicator is similar to 1990 levels, it is 26% above 2000 levels. So Tasmania can and should look for opportunities to further reduce emissions through measures such as energy efficiency in homes and work places, which will reduce energy use as well as bills.

In many ways, the Tasmanian indicator is a snapshot of what is possible in other states around Australia. It demonstrates that role that renewables can play in providing our energy, and the impact that can have on emissions levels.

Rupert Posner, director, The Climate Group Australia