Industrial processes sector greenhouse gas emissions

Key Finding

Industrial process emissions are the by-product of processes that convert raw materials to a range of chemical, mineral or metal products like cement, fertilisers and explosives. They also include the release of synthetic gases, such as those used in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Emissions were 5.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) in 2018. This represents 3% of Queensland’s total emissions.

• This compares with 3.5 MtCO₂e in 1990.
• In 2005, emissions were 5.5 MtCO₂e.

The main sources of Queensland's industrial process emissions are from:

• products used as ozone depleting substitutes (41%)
• minerals industry (21%)
• chemicals industry (21%)
• metals processing (21%).

Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are products that have substituted ozone depleting substances that are banned under the Montreal Protocol, and can have a global warming potential many thousands of times higher than carbon dioxide. F-gases emissions have increased significantly from 0.97 MtCO₂e in 2005 to 2.4 MtCO₂e by 2018. Key contributors of F-gases emissions are:

• stationary air-conditioning (44%)
• commercial refrigeration (35%)
• mobile air-conditioning in vehicles (13%)
• transport refrigeration (4%).

These increases are linked to increased population growth and economic activity, and inadequate thermal efficiency of new buildings due to the slow advancement of energy efficiency standards, which has contributed to increased demand for these products.

The graph’s 'other' category includes emissions from the food and beverages industry.

Queensland has the second highest share of emissions from industrial processes, behind NSW.

More information:

• State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventory – 2018

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals’ targets

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