2.  Tasmania’s emissions by sector

This chapter details Tasmania’s emissions by the IPCC sectors of energy; agriculture; IPPU; waste; and LULUCF.

The energy sector is disaggregated into three sub-sectors: electricity generation; direct combustion (of fuels for stationary energy uses); and transport.

Tasmania’s net emissions in 2019

Tasmania’s net emissions for 2019 by sector and energy sub-sector (Figure 8):

  • Tasmania’s net emissions in 2019 were minus 1.68 Mt CO2-e.
  • The LULUCF sector provided net sequestration of emissions (a carbon sink) of minus 10.04 Mt CO2‑e, offsetting emissions from all other sectors.
  • Excluding LULUCF, the remaining sectors contributed 8.36 Mt CO2-e to Tasmania’s emissions, which comprised emissions from the following sectors: energy (46.4 per cent); agriculture (28.7 per cent); IPPU (20.3 per cent); and waste (4.7 per cent).
  • The energy sector contributed 3.88 Mt CO2-e to Tasmania’s net emissions. Excluding LULUCF, the energy sub-sectors accounted for the following emissions: direct combustion (21 per cent); transport (21.5 per cent); and electricity generation (3.9 per cent).

Figure 8: Tasmanian emissions by sector and energy sub-sectors – 2019This figure combines a stacked bar chart with a table to show the contribution of different sectors and energy sub-sectors to Tasmania’s net emissions for 2019 of minus 1.68 Mt CO2-e. Those contributions comprise the energy subsectors of direct combustion (1.75 Mt CO2-e), transport (1.80 Mt CO2-e) and electricity generation (0.33 Mt CO2-e), and the sectoral contributions from agriculture (2.40 Mt CO2-e), IPPU (1.69 Mt CO2-e), Waste (0.39 Mt CO2-e) and LULUCF (-10.04 Mt CO2-e). The bar chart highlights the significant impact of the LULUCF sector in offsetting Tasmania’s net emissions.

Source: DoISER 2020A.

Figure 9 highlights the differences in the relative contribution of each sector and energy-subsector to an Australian state or territory’s total emissions. The LULUCF sector has been excluded from this analysis. The Australian Capital Territory is also excluded from this analysis as it only has a partial inventory, because its electricity is supplied by New South Wales.

Tasmania’s emissions profile differs from other Australian states and territories, due to much lower contributions from the electricity generation sub-sector to Tasmania’s total emissions. Emissions from Tasmania’s transport, direct combustion, IPPU and agriculture sectors make a larger relative contribution to the State’s total emissions than in most other jurisdictions.

2.1      Energy

Tasmania’s energy sector comprises electricity generation, direct combustion, transport, and fugitive emissions. The Australian Government treats Tasmania’s fugitive emissions as confidential, so these emissions are reported in the total emissions from the energy sector. Tasmania’s energy sector contributed 3.88 Mt CO2-e in 2019, accounting for 46.4 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions when LULUCF is excluded.

Figure 9: Relative contribution of each sector and energy-subsector to an Australian state or territory’s emissions, excluding LULUCF – 2019

This stacked bar chart highlights the differences in the relative contribution of each sector and energy-subsector to an Australian state or territory’s total emissions, excluding LULUCF. It shows that Tasmania’s emissions profile differs from other Australian states and territories, with much lower contributions from the electricity generation sub-sector to Tasmania’s total emissions (3.9 per cent share of total emissions). In contrast, it shows that electricity generation is the largest source of emissions in Victoria (43.1 per cent), Queensland (43.4 per cent), New South Wales (39.3 per cent), WA (36.5 per cent), and the NT (31.5 per cent, almost equal with agriculture at 31.3 per cent). Transport and agriculture are the largest sub-sectors in SA (23.9 per cent and 20.5 per cent respectively). The figure also shows that emissions from Tasmania’s transport (21.5 per cent), direct combustion (21.0 per cent), IPPU (20.3 per cent) and agriculture (28.7 per cent) sectors make a larger relative contribution to the State’s total emissions than in most other jurisdictions.

Compared to other states and territories (Figure 9), Tasmania has high levels of renewable energy generation. This means most of Tasmania’s energy emissions are attributed to direct combustion and transport (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Breakdown of Tasmanian emissions by energy sub-sector (excl. LULUCF) – 2019

This table shows that the energy sector was responsible for 46.4 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions excluding LULUCF. It further breaks down responsibility for these emissions into the stationary energy sub-sectors of electricity generation (3.9 per cent) and direct combustion (21.0 per cent), and the transport sub-sector (21.5 per cent).

2.1.1             Direct combustion

Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels for stationary energy purposes used directly on site have been aggregated into the direct combustion sub-sector. Direct combustion includes burning coal, gas, agricultural waste, or forestry residue to generate heat, steam, or pressure for commercial and major industrial operations, and burning wood or gas for household heating and cooking. The activities and industries that cause these emissions include manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fisheries, residential, and commercial operations.

Emissions associated with the use of electricity, or fuel combustion in transport, are accounted for in the electricity generation and transport sub-sectors respectively.

Direct combustion accounted for 21.0 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding the emissions from LULUCF (Figure 11).

Figure 11: Tasmanian emissions from direct combustion – 1990 to 2019

This figure includes an area chart showing the change in Tasmania’s emissions from direct combustion, which remained fairly steady between 1990 to 2002 (between 1.64 to1.55 Mt CO2-e), falling to 1.36 Mt CO2-e in 2003, climbing to 1.89 Mt CO2-e in 2009, falling to 1.75 Mt CO2-e in 2019, a change of 9.7 per cent. The figure also includes a pie chart that shows direct combustion was responsible for 20.95 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF, in 2019.

2.1.2             Transport

Emissions from the transport sub-sector are produced by the combustion of fuels such as petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), in passenger and commercial motor vehicles, railways, domestic aviation and shipping.

Emissions from electricity used to power electric vehicles, and liquid fuels used to run logging and farming machinery such as log skidders and tractors, are accounted for in the electricity generation and direct combustion sub-sectors respectively.

Transport accounted for 21.5 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF (Figure 12).

Figure 12: Tasmanian emissions from transport – 1990 to 2019

This figure includes an area chart showing the change in Tasmania’s emissions from transport, which increased from a minimum of 1.53 Mt CO2-e in 1990 to a maximum of 1.93 Mt CO2-e in 2008 and a smaller peak of 1.92 Mt CO2-e in 2011, before decreasing to 1.80 Mt CO2-e in 2019. The figure also includes a pie chart showing transport was responsible for 21.5 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF, in 2019.

2.1.3             Electricity generation

Emissions from electricity generation are produced by the combustion of fuels to generate electricity that is supplied to the electricity grid for domestic and commercial use.

This sub-sector covers emissions from electricity that is generated in Tasmania, some of which is exported to the National Electricity Market via Basslink. Emissions from electricity imported into Tasmania via Basslink are accounted for in the greenhouse gas inventory of the state that generates the electricity.

Electricity generation only accounted for 3.9 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF (Figure 13).

Figure 13: Tasmanian emissions from electricity generation – 1990 to 2019

This figure includes an area chart showing the change in Tasmania’s emissions from electricity generation, which decreased from a maximum of 0.76 Mt CO2-e in 1991, dropping sharply to 0.06 Mt CO2-e in 1992, remaining low until 2003, rising to a 0.67 Mt CO2-e in 2008, dropping to 0.40 Mt CO2-e in 2009, then rising to a high of 0.73 Mt CO2-e in 2013, dropping to 0.11 Mt CO2-e in 2015, rising again to 0.48 Mt CO2-e in 2016 and dropping to 0.33 Mt CO2-e in 2019. The figure also includes a pie chart showing electricity generation was responsible for 3.9 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF, in 2019.

2.2      Agriculture

Sources of emissions from the agriculture sector include livestock digestive systems (enteric fermentation), the release of nitrous oxide from cropping and pastureland, and manure management.

  • Enteric fermentation of plant material that is digested by livestock (eg cattle, sheep, and pigs) results in methane emissions.
  • Urine and dung deposited by grazing animals, and nitrogen leaching and run-off, result in emissions from microbial and chemical transformations that produce and consume nitrous oxide in the soil.
  • Manure management produces emissions through the anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition of the organic matter contained in manure.
  • Land management practices such as lime, fertiliser and urea applications produce nitrous oxide emissions.

Emissions associated with the use of electricity, fuel consumption from operating agricultural equipment, and fuel consumption in transport, are accounted for in the energy sector. Emissions associated with land use change, including the clearing and re-clearing of vegetation, are accounted for in the LULUCF sector.

Tasmania’s agriculture sector accounted for 28.7 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF (Figure 14).

Figure 14: Tasmanian emissions from agriculture – 1990 to 2019

This figure includes an area chart that shows the change in Tasmania’s emissions from agriculture between 1990 and 2019. It shows emissions decreased from 2.61 Mt CO2-e in 1990 to a minimum of 2.13 Mt CO2-e in 2010, before climbing to 2.54 Mt CO2-e in 2014 and again in 2017 and dropping to 2.40 Mt CO2-e in 2019. The figure also includes a pie chart that shows agriculture was responsible for 28.7 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF, in 2019.

2.3      Industrial processes and product use

Emissions from the IPPU sector are generated from a range of production processes that include: the calcination of carbonate compounds (eg cement, lime or glass production); carbon when used as a chemical reductant (eg iron, steel or aluminium production); and the production and use of synthetic gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (eg used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and as solvents) and sulphur hexafluoride (electrical equipment).

Emissions associated with the energy used in industrial production processes are accounted for in the electricity generation and direct combustion sub-sectors. For example, the emissions from cement manufacture include combustion of fuels (coal or natural gas) used to heat kilns in the manufacturing process. However, these combustion-related emissions are reported in the energy sector (as direct combustion) and not with IPPU, which only includes the emissions from calcination.

Tasmania’s IPPU sector accounted for 20.3 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF (Figure 15).

Figure 15: Tasmanian emissions from IPPU – 1990 to 2019

This figure includes an area chart that shows the change in Tasmania’s emissions from IPPU, which decreased between 1990 and 1996 (from 1.42 to 1.06 Mt CO2-e), before trending upwards to a maximum of 1.70 Mt CO2-e in 2015, which was nearly matched in 2017 and 2019, at 1.69 Mt CO2-e. The figure also includes a pie chart that shows IPPU was responsible for 20.3 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF, in 2019.

2.4      Waste

Emissions from the waste sector are produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter from solid waste in landfills and from the release of greenhouse gases during the treatment of wastewater. Methane is produced by anaerobic digestion processes in wastewater treatment plants and the nitrification and denitrification of urea and ammonia produces nitrous oxide emissions.

Emissions associated with the energy used in the management and transportation of waste are reported in the electricity generation, direct combustion, and transport sub-sectors.

Tasmania’s waste sector accounted for 4.7 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF (Figure 16).

Figure16: Tasmanian emissions from the waste sector – 1990 to 2019

This figure includes an area chart that shows the change in Tasmania’s emissions from waste, which remained relatively constant between 1990 and 2004 (average of 0.529 Mt CO2-e), before dropping to 0.36 Mt CO2-e in 2009, with some small peaks and troughs through to 2019 (0.39 Mt CO2-e). The figure also includes a pie chart that shows waste was responsible for 4.7 per cent of Tasmania’s emissions, excluding LULUCF, in 2019.

2.5      Land use, land use change, and forestry

Sources of emissions

The LULUCF sector includes emissions and sequestration (removals or carbon sinks) of greenhouse gases from direct human-induced land use, land use change and forestry activities. This includes emissions and sequestration associated with:

  • the clearance of forested land and conversion to other land uses (eg cropland, grassland, wetlands and settlements);
  • the establishment of new forests planted on previously unforested land; and
  • other practices that change emissions and sequestration, such as forest management, cropland management and grazing land management.

Emissions from fuelwood consumption, controlled burning and wildfires on forest land are also included in the LULUCF sector, as are removals associated with post-fire recovery. Carbon that is stored in harvested wood products is included as a carbon sink.

The combustion of fossil fuels associated with forestry activity and land management (eg diesel to run logging machinery and farming equipment) is accounted for in the direct combustion sub-sector of the energy sector. Non‑CO2 emissions associated with livestock (eg enteric fermentation) and cropping (eg release of nitrous oxide from agricultural soils) are accounted for in the agriculture sector.

In 2019, Tasmania’s LULUCF sector was a net carbon sink, contributing minus 10.04 Mt CO2-e. This offset the emissions from other sectors that had a combined contribution of 8.36 Mt CO2-e (Figure 17).

Figure 17: Tasmania’s emissions from LULUCF relative to other sectors – 1990 to 2019

This area chart shows emissions from the LULUCF sector from 1990 to 2019. It shows that emissions from LULUCF have fluctuated significantly since 1990, from 11.37 Mt CO2-e in 1990, to 9.20 Mt CO2-e in 1999, increasing in stepped increments to a peak of 14.29 Mt CO2-e in 2003, decreasing sharply to 7.51 Mt CO2-e in 2007, increasing slightly in 2008, before again falling sharply to become a carbon sink for the first time in 2012 of minus 5.92 Mt CO2-e, and reaching a minimum of minus 10.04 Mt CO2-e in 2019. The dotted orange line shows Tasmania’s emissions excluding LULUCF remained relatively steady, from 8.26 Mt CO2-e in 1990 to 8.36 Mt CO2-e in 2019.

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