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Emissions from transport sources

Busy traffic

Transport emissions in Australia are projected to continue to grow strongly into the future.
Image courtesy of B. Peters

Together, on-road and off-road mobile transport sources are responsible for an average of 38.3 per cent of NOx emissions in the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region (Sydney, the Lower Hunter and Illawarra). In metropolitan Sydney, this figure is up to 81.3 per cent.


NOx emissions from transport

NOx emissions from transport NSW Greater Metropolitan Region

NSW Greater Metropolitan Region
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

NOx emissions from transport Sydney

Sydney
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007


 

Transport also contributes more than 40 per cent of VOC emissions (NOx and VOCs are precursors of ground-level ozone) and generates around a quarter of PM10 emissions in the region.

 

VOC emissions from transport

VOC emissions from transport NSW GMR

NSW Greater Metropolitan Region
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

VOC emissions from transport Sydney

Sydney
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007


 

Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

PM10 emissions from transport

 
PM10 emissions from transport NSW GMR

NSW Greater Metropolitan Region
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

PM10 emissions from transport Sydney

Sydney
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007


 

Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

The transport sector is also the third largest source of greenhouse gases in Australia, accounting for 14.4 per cent of emissions. The greatest projected growth in greenhouse gas emissions is expected to come from in increase in road travel. The NSW Government's Action for Air plan identifies motor vehicles as our most critical air quality issue.

Read about what actions are in place to clear the air of transport emissions.

Busy traffic

Transport emissions in Australia are projected to continue to grow strongly into the future.
Image courtesy of B. Peters

Together, on-road and off-road mobile transport sources are responsible for an average of 38.3 per cent of NOx emissions in the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region (Sydney, the Lower Hunter and Illawarra). In metropolitan Sydney, this figure is up to 81.3 per cent.


NOx emissions from transport

NOx emissions from transport NSW Greater Metropolitan Region

NSW Greater Metropolitan Region
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

NOx emissions from transport Sydney

Sydney
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007


 

Transport also contributes more than 40 per cent of VOC emissions (NOx and VOCs are precursors of ground-level ozone) and generates around a quarter of PM10 emissions in the region.

 

VOC emissions from transport

VOC emissions from transport NSW GMR

NSW Greater Metropolitan Region
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

VOC emissions from transport Sydney

Sydney
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007


 

Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

PM10 emissions from transport

 
PM10 emissions from transport NSW GMR

NSW Greater Metropolitan Region
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

PM10 emissions from transport Sydney

Sydney
Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007


 

Source: Current and Projected Air quality in NSW technical paper, 2007

The transport sector is also the third largest source of greenhouse gases in Australia, accounting for 14.4 per cent of emissions. The greatest projected growth in greenhouse gas emissions is expected to come from in increase in road travel. The NSW Government's Action for Air plan identifies motor vehicles as our most critical air quality issue.

Read about what actions are in place to clear the air of transport emissions.


Motor vehicles

On-road mobile sources include cars, 4WDs, vans, trucks and buses. This is what they contribute to the air in Sydney:

a) NOx emissions 

b) VOC emissions 

c) PM10 emissions 

d) PM2.5 emissions

Based on data from the Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW, August 2007

Based on data from the Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW, August 2007

While trucks might seem to be obvious polluters, most motor vehicle emissions responsible for ground-level ozone can actually be attributed to passenger cars. This is because there are so many cars on the road.

Petrol-run passenger cars are responsible for 41.2 per cent of NOx and 19.9 per cent of VOC emissions in Sydney. That's more than all other vehicles combined.

Of the 23 per cent of fine particle emissions caused by motor vehicles, passenger vehicles are responsible for a third. The real concern here is diesel-run vehicles as diesel particles are more polluting than those created from burning petrol.

Motor vehicles also generate more than 60 per cent of benzene and 1,3-butadiene emissions, and more than 40 per cent of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) emissions, all of which are air toxics. There has been growing international concern over exposure to air toxics near service stations and busy roads.

As part of an overall tightening of National Fuel Quality Standards, the Federal Government introduced a limit on benzene in petrol in 2006 to greatly reduce community exposure to this chemical.

However, even as vehicles and fuels continue to become cleaner, their benefits are likely be offset by:

  • the older cars still on our roads
  • the increasing number of cars that our growing population is buying
  • the more trips and kilometres we are doing in our cars.

To change this trend we all need to change our habits.

On-road mobile sources include cars, 4WDs, vans, trucks and buses. This is what they contribute to the air in Sydney:

a) NOx emissions 

b) VOC emissions 

c) PM10 emissions 

d) PM2.5 emissions

Based on data from the Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW, August 2007

Based on data from the Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW, August 2007

While trucks might seem to be obvious polluters, most motor vehicle emissions responsible for ground-level ozone can actually be attributed to passenger cars. This is because there are so many cars on the road.

Petrol-run passenger cars are responsible for 41.2 per cent of NOx and 19.9 per cent of VOC emissions in Sydney. That's more than all other vehicles combined.

Of the 23 per cent of fine particle emissions caused by motor vehicles, passenger vehicles are responsible for a third. The real concern here is diesel-run vehicles as diesel particles are more polluting than those created from burning petrol.

Motor vehicles also generate more than 60 per cent of benzene and 1,3-butadiene emissions, and more than 40 per cent of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) emissions, all of which are air toxics. There has been growing international concern over exposure to air toxics near service stations and busy roads.

As part of an overall tightening of National Fuel Quality Standards, the Federal Government introduced a limit on benzene in petrol in 2006 to greatly reduce community exposure to this chemical.

However, even as vehicles and fuels continue to become cleaner, their benefits are likely be offset by:

  • the older cars still on our roads
  • the increasing number of cars that our growing population is buying
  • the more trips and kilometres we are doing in our cars.

To change this trend we all need to change our habits.



Older vehicles

Older, less efficient vehicles contribute more than their fair share of emissions and offset gains from new vehicle and fuel standards. For example, a car manufactured in 2003–2007 will have nearly one third of the carbon monoxide and NOx emissions of a car manufactured in 1993–1997. Diesel vehicles, especially, have a slow turnover rate.

Contribution of vehicle emissions according to their age:

 Year of Manufacture
 % of light vehicle fleet
 % of CO emissions
% of 
hydrocarbon emissions
 % of NOx emissions
 % of particle emissions
 1958-1992 12 33
40
25 32
 1993-1997 18
29
23
32
26
 1998-2002 32
25
22
30
25
 2003-2007 38
13
15
13
17

Source: NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy, 2008

The much bigger contribution older cars make to air pollution is clear, as are the advances made in vehicle efficiency in recent years thanks to increasingly tough standards.

But even if you drive an older model car, there are still plenty of things you can do to limit its emissions.

Older, less efficient vehicles contribute more than their fair share of emissions and offset gains from new vehicle and fuel standards. For example, a car manufactured in 2003–2007 will have nearly one third of the carbon monoxide and NOx emissions of a car manufactured in 1993–1997. Diesel vehicles, especially, have a slow turnover rate.

Contribution of vehicle emissions according to their age:

 Year of Manufacture
 % of light vehicle fleet
 % of CO emissions
% of 
hydrocarbon emissions
 % of NOx emissions
 % of particle emissions
 1958-1992 12 33
40
25 32
 1993-1997 18
29
23
32
26
 1998-2002 32
25
22
30
25
 2003-2007 38
13
15
13
17

Source: NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy, 2008

The much bigger contribution older cars make to air pollution is clear, as are the advances made in vehicle efficiency in recent years thanks to increasingly tough standards.

But even if you drive an older model car, there are still plenty of things you can do to limit its emissions.



Other transport

Boats also cause pollution

The off-road sector is the highest source of fine particles in the Greater Metropolitan Region after industry.

Other forms of transport (called other 'off-road') include trains, planes, ships and boats. Here’s how they impact our air quality:

  • 8 per cent of NOx in the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region; 10.3 per cent in Sydney
  • 4.4 per cent VOC in the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region; 3.6 per cent in Sydney

However at 19.4 per cent of PM10 and 21.3 per cent of PM2.5, the off-road sector is the highest source of fine particles in the Greater Metropolitan Region after industry.

These sources also contribute 67.9 per cent of lead into our air.

Boats also cause pollution

The off-road sector is the highest source of fine particles in the Greater Metropolitan Region after industry.

Other forms of transport (called other 'off-road') include trains, planes, ships and boats. Here’s how they impact our air quality:

  • 8 per cent of NOx in the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region; 10.3 per cent in Sydney
  • 4.4 per cent VOC in the NSW Greater Metropolitan Region; 3.6 per cent in Sydney

However at 19.4 per cent of PM10 and 21.3 per cent of PM2.5, the off-road sector is the highest source of fine particles in the Greater Metropolitan Region after industry.

These sources also contribute 67.9 per cent of lead into our air.



Find out more

Read about the impact of transport in the NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy, 2008 and in the Current and Projected Air Quality technical paper prepared by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, now known as the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Also see the brochure Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW (PDF, 221kb).

Read about the impact of transport in the NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy, 2008 and in the Current and Projected Air Quality technical paper prepared by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, now known as the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Also see the brochure Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW (PDF, 221kb).


 
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