Facts
Greenhouse
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere creating conditions that are suitable for life on Earth. This natural phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect.
Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are rising at a faster rate than ever before and scientists agree that human actions such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and land clearing are causing these increases. This is called the enhanced greenhouse effect. It results in more heat being trapped in the atmosphere and contributes to a warming of the Earth’s surface.
There is worldwide scientific agreement that the enhanced greenhouse effect is already causing higher average air temperatures in the lower atmosphere, changed rainfall patterns and rising sea levels.
The climatic changes caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect are often referred to as ‘global climate change’.
Emissions
Australia’s 20 million people emit 23 tonnes of greenouse gases per person. (New South Wales greenhouse gas emissions were 158.7 million tonnes in 2004.)
The UK, Germany and Japan all emit just over 10 tonnes per person an the average for industrialised nations is about 13 tonnes.
High emissions are due to:
- high dependence on coal fired generation
- the energy intensity of our exports (such as aluminium, steel, coal)
- distance between cities
- rising standard of living
Improvement in the efficiency with which we use energy will reduce its greenhouse intensity.
Did You Know?
- The retail industry is the largest employer in Australia, employing about 920,000 people (about 12 percent of the workforce).
- Around 70,000 retail businesses transact some $150 billion dollars worth of business a year.
- Compared to other buildings such as offices, the retail sector is the fifth highest polluter of greenhouse gas emissions.
