Emissions data
This page provides a snapshot of Queensland’s:
- total greenhouse gas emissions
- greenhouse gas emissions by sector
- progress towards our 2030 and 2035 targets.
The data is sourced from the National Greenhouse Accounts 2022.
Please direct any data-related questions to climatechange@des.qld.gov.au.
MtCO₂-e is the abbreviation for million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The various greenhouse gases differ in their effects on the climate, so to make calculations easier, the amounts of these gases are converted into an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide with the same effect on warming potential. While carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities, others include methane, nitrous oxide, and some other gases with industrial applications.
Sector | Emissions (MtCO2-e) |
---|---|
Public Electricity (36.2%) | 44.95339799 |
Stationary and industrial energy (20.8%) | 25.84053759 |
Transport (17.3%) | 21.46006266 |
Agriculture (16.9%) | 20.96211051 |
Fugitive emissions (14.6%) | 18.1742001 |
Industrial processes (4.6%) | 5.75578217 |
Waste (2.3%) | 2.876335081 |
Land use, land use change and forestry (-12.8%) | -15.92560088 |
Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2022
- *Queensland’s total emissions were 140 MtCO₂-e with -15.9 MtCO₂-e absorbed by the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector.
- The National Greenhouse Accounts reports emissions from Public electricity, Stationary and Industrial energy, Transport, Agriculture, Fugitive emissions, Industrial processes, Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), and Waste.For further information, refer to Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts.
Year | Total emissions |
---|---|
2005 | 191.939 |
2006 | 204.572 |
2007 | 189.661 |
2008 | 186.707 |
2009 | 181.059 |
2010 | 178.456 |
2011 | 179.756 |
2012 | 164.059 |
2013 | 181.93 |
2014 | 174.334 |
2015 | 169.699 |
2016 | 156.099 |
2017 | 168.357 |
2018 | 165.674 |
2019 | 157.052 |
2020 | 151.133 |
2021 | 143.283 |
2022 | 124.097 |
Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2022.
- The higher dotted line represents Queensland’s emissions reduction target of at least 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.Queensland’s 2022 emissions were 35% below 2005 levels, meaning this target was achieved 8 years ahead of schedule.
- The lower dotted line represents Queensland's new 75% by 2035 emissions reduction target.
- In April 2024, Queensland Parliament enshrined in law the 2030, 2035 and 'net zero by 2050' emissions reduction targets through the Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024.
Sector | Public electricity | Transport | Fugitive | Stationary and industrial energy | Industrial processes | Agriculture | Land use, land use change and forestry | Waste |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 47.551 | 17.847 | 12.994 | 17.005 | 5.081 | 22.455 | 66.204 | 2.801 |
2006 | 49.845 | 18.186 | 12.496 | 17.128 | 4.698 | 21.993 | 77.495 | 2.73 |
2007 | 50.067 | 18.918 | 13.652 | 17.274 | 5.026 | 22.034 | 59.632 | 3.058 |
2008 | 49.479 | 19.928 | 13.991 | 17.904 | 5.476 | 22.07 | 54.645 | 3.215 |
2009 | 50.706 | 19.657 | 14.272 | 17.203 | 5.46 | 23.022 | 47.314 | 3.426 |
2010 | 49.184 | 19.85 | 16.144 | 17.581 | 5.637 | 21.055 | 45.668 | 3.337 |
2011 | 46.541 | 20.263 | 14.728 | 17.913 | 5.427 | 23.493 | 47.921 | 3.469 |
2012 | 46.666 | 21.045 | 16.091 | 18.916 | 5.53 | 22.713 | 30.12 | 2.978 |
2013 | 44.764 | 21.165 | 16.897 | 20.47 | 5.062 | 23.551 | 46.817 | 3.205 |
2014 | 42.708 | 21.008 | 16.098 | 20.666 | 5.36 | 23.836 | 41.632 | 3.024 |
2015 | 48.232 | 21.18 | 19.438 | 20.999 | 5.385 | 21.299 | 30.102 | 3.063 |
2016 | 50.159 | 22.227 | 20.318 | 22.011 | 5.329 | 20.841 | 12.107 | 3.107 |
2017 | 51.156 | 22.314 | 19.903 | 23.915 | 5.138 | 21.182 | 21.797 | 2.952 |
2018 | 53.146 | 23.655 | 21.347 | 25.158 | 5.408 | 22.597 | 11.279 | 3.083 |
2019 | 51.701 | 23.578 | 20.254 | 25.056 | 5.987 | 21.374 | 5.972 | 3.131 |
2020 | 49.439 | 22.05 | 21.672 | 25.216 | 5.75 | 19.818 | 3.854 | 3.333 |
2021 | 46.944 | 21.741 | 20.391 | 25.683 | 5.82 | 20.461 | -0.81 | 3.053 |
2022 | 44.953 | 21.46 | 18.174 | 25.841 | 5.756 | 20.962 | -15.926 | 2.876 |
Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2022.
Sub sector | Emissions (MtCO₂-e) |
---|---|
Forest land | -10.959 |
Cropland | 0.068 |
Grassland | -5.358 |
Wetland | 0.294 |
Settlements | 0.802 |
Harvested wood products | -0.773 |
Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2022.
- Queensland LULUCF emissions in 2022 were -15.9 MtCO₂-e. This means the LULUCF sector removed more emissions from the atmosphere than it created.
- Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) is made up of 6 subsectors comprising both greenhouse gas emissions and removals (also known as sequestration).
- In 2022, emissions from wetlands contributed 0.3 MtCO₂-e, emissions from croplands contributed 0.07 MtCO₂-e, and emissions settlements contributed 0.8 MtCO₂-e.
- In 2022, forest land, grassland and harvested wood products were a source of sequestration, representing a removal of 11, 5.4 and 0.8 MtCO₂-e respectively.
- Forest land comprises emissions and sequestration from forest land remaining forest land and land converted to forest land. Forest land remaining forest land includes plantations, harvested native forests and other native forests. Emissions from fuelwood consumption and biomass burning in forests (controlled burning and wildfire) are also included as is the sequestration associated with post-fire recovery. Land converted to forest land includes grassland, croplands, settlements and wetlands (tidal marsh) on which forest is identified to emerge.
- Cropland comprises emissions and sequestration from cropland remaining cropland and forest land and wetlands converted to cropland.
- Grassland comprises emissions and sequestration from grassland remaining grassland and forest land and wetlands converted to grassland.
- Wetland comprises emissions and sequestration from wetlands remaining wetlands and forest land converted to wetlands. Wetlands remaining wetlands estimates represent nitrous oxides emissions from aquaculture use in tidal wetlands, net CO₂ emissions from removal of seagrass due to capital dredging and net emissions due to human-induced changes in the area of sparse woody vegetation.
- Settlements comprises emissions and sequestration from settlements remaining settlements and forest land and wetlands converted to settlements.
- Harvested wood products is represented as a sink as most timber is used, for example, in the construction industry in the form of buildings and furniture, where it often stays for decades.
Sub sector | Emissions (MtCO₂-e) |
---|---|
Solid waste disposal | 2.069 |
Biological treatment of solid waste | 0.058 |
Incineration and open burning of waste | 0.007 |
Waste water treatment and discharge | 0.742 |
Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2022.
- Queensland waste emissions in 2022 were 2.9 MtCO₂-e (or 2.3% of Queensland’s total greenhouse gas emissions).
- Queensland’s waste sector greenhouse gas emissions come from 4 key subsectors including solid waste disposal, biological treatment of solid waste, incineration and open burning of waste, and wastewater treatment and discharge.
- Landfill (solid waste disposal) is the largest source of waste-related emissions at just under 72% of the sector's total emissions in 2022.
- Approximately 26% of waste sector emissions come from wastewater treatment and discharge, while a very small contribution is made by the treatment of solid waste and incineration.
Sub sector | Emissions (MtCO₂-e) |
---|---|
Enteric fermentation | 16.42 |
Manure management | 2.40 |
Rice cultivation | 0.00 |
Agricultural soils | 1.83 |
Field burning of agricultural residues | 0.04 |
Liming | 0.04 |
Urea application | 0.23 |
Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2022.
- Queensland agriculture emissions in 2022 were 21 MtCO₂-e or 16.9% of Queensland’s total 2022 greenhouse gas emissions.
- Emissions from agriculture include enteric fermentation; manure management; rice cultivation; agricultural soils; field burning of agricultural residues; liming and the application of urea as a fertiliser.
- The largest source of Queensland’s agriculture emissions is enteric fermentation representing 78% of the sector’s total emissions. This is primarily due to methane emissions produced from Queensland’s large livestock numbers including beef cattle and sheep.
- Manure management and agricultural soils are the next largest sources of agriculture emissions in Queensland representing around 11.5% and 8.7% respectively.
- Greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation, field burning of agricultural residues, liming and urea application are low, collectively representing 1.5% of Queensland’s agricultural emissions.
Sub sector | Emissions (MtCO₂-e) |
---|---|
Mineral industry | 1.243271112 |
Chemical industry | 1.248104778 |
Non-energy products from fuels and solvent use | 0.054538132 |
Product uses as ODS substitutes | 2.259592226 |
Other product manufacture and use | 0.03224403 |
Other | 0.918031892 |
Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2022.
- Queensland industrial process emissions in 2022 were 5.8 MtCO₂-e or 4.6% of Queensland’s total 2022 greenhouse gas emissions.
- Industrial processes involve activities from a range of production processes such as the mineral industry, through cement and glass production and chemical industry.
- Greenhouse gas emissions from halocarbons, a replacement for ozone-depleting substances used in refrigeration and air-conditioning, have increased significantly representing 39% of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by Industrial processes in 2022.
- The subsectors include mineral industry (22%), chemical industry (22%), non-energy products from fuels and solvent use (1%), other product manufacture and use (0.6%), and other (16%).
- Last updated:
- 13 June 2024