Queensland’s greenhouse gas emissions and targets

Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2021

• *Queensland’s total emissions were 144.2 MtCO₂-e with 4.5 MtCO₂-e absorbed by the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector. Please direct any data-related questions to climatechange@des.qld.gov.au.
• The NGGI reports emissions from Fugitive emissions from fuels, Other sectors, Transport, Manufacturing industries and construction, and Energy industries as subsets of the Energy sector. For further information refer to:
  • National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Trend
  • Industrial processes sector greenhouse gas emissions

Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2021

• The dotted line represents Queensland’s emission reduction target of at least 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. Queensland’s 2021 emissions were 29% below 2005 levels, which places Queensland within reach of the 2030 target.
• To achieve Queensland’s 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 target, the abatement task from current 2021 levels is 2.5 MtCO₂-e.

Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2021

Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2021

• Queensland LULUCF emissions in 2021 were -4.5 MtCO₂-e. This has reduced total 2021 emissions by over 3%.
• Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) is made up of six subsectors comprising both greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
• In 2021, Queensland’s emissions from grasslands contributed 8.9 MtCO₂-e, the largest subsector contribution of Queensland’s LULUCF emissions. The grassland category comprises emissions and removals from grassland that remains grassland and forest land and wetlands converted to grassland.
• In 2021, emissions from wetlands contributed 0.04 MtCO₂-e, emissions from croplands contributed 1.8 MtCO₂-e, and emissions settlements contributed 1.2 MtCO₂-e.
• In 2021, forest land and harvested wood products were a source of sequestration, representing a removal of 15.8 MtCO₂-e 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.

Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2021

• Queensland waste emissions in 2021 were 3.1 MtCO₂-e or 2.2% of Queensland’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
• Queensland’s waste sector greenhouse gas emissions come from four key subsectors including solid waste disposal, biological treatment of solid waste, incineration and open burning of waste, and waste water treatment and discharge.
• Landfill (solid waste disposal) is the largest source of waste-related emissions at just under 76% of the sectors total emissions in 2021.
• Approximately 22% of waste sector emissions come from waste water treatment and discharge while a very small contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is made by the treatment of solid waste.
• Treatment of solid waste and incineration produces a very small contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in the sector.

Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2021

• Queensland agriculture emissions in 2021 were 20.7 MtCO₂-e or 14.8% of Queensland’s total 2021 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% and 10% respectively.
• Greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation, field burning of agricultural residues, liming and urea application are low, collectively representing 1.4% of Queensland’s agricultural emissions.

Source: National Greenhouse Accounts 2021

• Queensland industrial process emissions in 2021 were 5.8 MtCO₂-e or 4.2% of Queensland’s total 2021 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.
• This sector also includes refrigeration and air conditioning. Greenhouse gas emissions from halocarbons, a replacement for ozone-depleting substances used in refrigeration and air-conditioning, have increased significantly representing 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by Industrial processes in 2021.
• Emissions from six subsectors make up Queensland’s industrial processes including mineral industry (22%), non-energy products from fuels and solvent use (1%), chemical industry (21%), Product uses as ozone depleting substances (ODS) substitutes (40%), other product manufacture and use (0.6%), and other (15%).