Thursday, June 25, 2009

Energy use forces up emissions

The Age, June 26, 2009



ENERGY generation in Australia increased by 15 per cent in the past six years — indicating that domestic greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday reported that the largest increases were in natural gas, black coal and uranium — a reflection of the buoyant resources sector. About 61 per cent of all energy generated between 2001-02 and 2006-07 was exported.

Under one key measure, energy intensity, the mining sector's greenhouse performance has deteriorated over the past 30 years.

It now uses far more energy for every extra dollar of economic activity than it did in the late 1970s, largely due to a shift towards more open-cut mining.

The agriculture industry is also more energy intensive than it was three decades ago.

Domestically, the largest users of energy were manufacturing (36 per cent) and electricity supply (31 per cent).

ADAM MORTON

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