Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rising In Eastern Australia

 

According to the Greenhouse Indicator Report released by The Climate Group today, emissions originating with energy consumption in Australia’s eastern states rose during 2008. 

Emissions in Victoria rose by 2.2 million tonnes and in Queensland by 2 million tonnes; but in New South Wales,  emissions fell by 0.5 million tonnes.

A grimmer picture is painted when comparing emission to previous years. When comparing with levels in 2000, emissions were collectively up 19 per cent. Going back to 1990, the Kyoto Protocol benchmark, in Queensland greenhouse gas emissions have risen 116 per cent, NSW has experienced a 30 per cent rise and in Victoria, emissions are up 32 per cent . 

According to the Kyoto Protocol, Australia is able increase its emissions by only 8% above 1990 levels. Based on the eastern state data, Australia will unlikely reach that goal at the end of the reporting period, which is 2012.

The Climate Group believes most of the increase in emissions in 2008 was attributed to coal-fired generation in Queensland and Victoria, accounting for an extra 1.5 million tonnes each. The group stated that more electricity was produced by coal fired means and less from gas and renewable energy sources (such as wind energy and solar power) overall than in 2007. The organization has warned that the window of opportunity open to Australia to play a serious role in prevent dangerous climate change is becoming smaller.

The Climate Group, an independent, not-for-profit organisation that works internationally with government and business leaders to advance climate change solutions, has tracked greenhouse emissions from energy use in Victoria, NSW and Queensland on a weekly basis for two years through the Greenhouse Indicator.

Pakistan Considers A Solar Power Future

 

Currently in the throes of an energy crisis due to a massive reduction in hydro-electric power generation, Pakistan is looking towards solar energy to make up the deficit.

On Friday, China offered a partnership for generating and manufacturing solar power equipment in Pakistan to help meet its growing power shortages. China says it is ready to send  technicians to assist with the introduction and manufacturing of cost effective solar panels in the country as a means of not only addressing energy issues but also to create many new job opportunities in Pakistan.

China's courting of Pakistan may upset the Australian coal industry's apple cart as the industry has already expressed interest in setting up two 1000 MW coal fired power plants in the country. It could be seen as somewhat ironic that the environmental and energy issues facing Pakistan, which go hand in hand, are related to climate change; a phenomenon that's been attributed to greenhouse gas emissions such as those created by the burning of coal.

According to Pakistan's Solar Energy Resource Centre, the country receives an average of about 5 kilowatts per square metre of solar energy per day. Pakistan is facing serious energy problems as 95 per cent of its electricity generation comes from hydro-electric sources, which cannot keep pace with demand in its increasingly dry months.

Additionally, around 70 per cent of the population live in thousands of villages scattered around the country, many of which are far from main transmission lines and as such, it's not economically viable to connect these villages to the grid. The Centre says that solar energy has excellent potential in reaching these people.

News for Friday 09 January, 2009

 

• NASA Head Slams Australian Coal
  


• Suntech Attains 1GW Solar Cell Production Capacity
  

View all news for Friday 09 January, 2009 on one page

Recent News

 

• Thursday 08 January, 2009
  


• Wednesday 07 January, 2009
  


• Tuesday 06 January, 2009
  


• Monday 05 January, 2009
  


• Friday 02 January, 2009
  

News archive