Australia’s emission estimates by state and territory by year from 1990 to 2020.
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Source: State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2020 (DCCEEW, 2022)
Note: Emission estimates for some subsectors are not available for states and territories due to confidentiality constraints. The difference between the national and the sum of the state and territory emissions (less than 0.2%) reflects including military transport and external territories in the national inventory.
Data insights
New South Wales:
- Total emissions for New South Wales in 2020 were 132.4 Mt CO₂-e.
- Emissions have declined 18.1% on 2005 levels, mainly due to reductions in emissions from stationary energy (mostly electricity) and agriculture.
- Emissions from transport have increased compared to 2005 levels, though COVID-19 resulted in a 6.5% decrease in 2020 on 2019 levels.
Victoria:
- Total emissions for Victoria in 2020 were 83.3 Mt CO₂-e.
- Emissions have declined 29.8% from 2005 levels, mainly due to reductions in emissions from stationary energy (mostly electricity) and the land sector.
Queensland:
- Total emissions for Queensland in 2020 were 159.2 Mt CO₂-e.
- Emissions have decreased by 19.3% on 2005 levels, with large reductions from the land sector. This is principally driven by lower rates of primary forest clearing.
- Emissions have increased in the stationary energy and fugitive from fossil fuel extraction sectors. This is principally due to strong mining and export growth.
- Transport emissions have risen compared to 2005, reflecting long term growth in population and vehicle fleets, though COVID-19 drove a fall of 6.4% compared to 2019.
Western Australia:
- Total emissions for Western Australia in 2020 were 82.1 Mt CO₂-e.
- Emissions have increased 4.5% on 2005 levels.
- Strong growth in mining and exports has driven increases in stationary energy and fugitive emissions from fossil fuel extraction.
- 2020 is the first year of reporting for Chevron’s Gorgon carbon capture and storage facility, which extracted and injected 2.7 Mt CO₂ in 2020.
- Long term growth in population and vehicle fleets has resulted in increased transport emissions in the long term, though COVID has resulted in steady emissions levels compared to 2019.
South Australia:
- Total emissions for South Australia in 2020 were 25.4 Mt CO₂-e.
- Emissions have decreased by 31.1% on 2005 levels, mainly due to reductions in emissions from stationary energy (electricity) and the land sector.
Tasmania:
- Total emissions for Tasmania in 2020 were −3.7 Mt CO₂-e.
- Net emissions have declined by 127.8% on 2005 levels, due to lower emissions from the land sector. This has mainly been from reductions in native forest harvesting.
Australian Capital Territory:
- Emissions in the Australian Capital Territory for 2020 were 1.1 Mt CO₂-e, an 18.5% decrease on 2005.
- The largest upward pressure on emissions was from the transport sector, which fell in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.
Northern Territory:
- Total emissions for the Northern Territory in 2020 were 17.3 Mt CO₂-e.
- Emissions have increased by 36.2% on 2005 levels.
- Strong growth in mining and exports has driven increases in fugitive emissions from fossil fuel extraction and stationary energy emissions.
About the data
The State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2020 provide an overview of the latest available estimates of greenhouse gas emissions for Australia’s states and territories. Estimates are calculated on a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) accounting basis.
These state and territory emission estimates are based on national estimates in the National Inventory Report 2020, submitted to the UNFCCC. They are consistent with how the Australian Government will acquit its emission reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.