Reducing Brisbane's emissions
Greenhouse gases produced
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane come from human activities such as:
- burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas for electricity and transport
- the breakdown of wastes
- agriculture and land clearing
- industrial activity
How are greenhouse gases measured?
The main two greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane (there are several others too). Carbon dioxide accounts for around 60 percent of the greenhouse effect and methane for 20 percent.
A unit of greenhouse gas is equivalent to 1 tonne of carbon dioxide.
What does a tonne of greenhouse gas look like?
A tonne of greenhouse gas would fill 10 backyard swimming pools or 20,000 party balloons.
How much greenhouse gas does a Brisbane household produce?
Each Brisbane household produces about 16 tonnes of greenhouse emissions annually. This is enough gas to fill 160 backyard swimming pools.
In comparison, a Brisbane household that sticks to Target 140 (140 litres per person daily) uses enough water to fill 2.5 pools annually.
Of the average 16 tonnes each household generates, approximately 9 tonnes is from electricity and gas use, 6 tonnes is from transport and 1 tonne is from waste. Air travel and the things we buy add extra emissions.
Brisbane's household greenhouse emissions
The following pie chart shows where most greenhouse gases come from in a typical Brisbane household.
