Air and atmosphere
The emissions that we release into the atmosphere can affect the quality of the air we breathe. These may build up in the atmosphere, leading to climate change.
The topics in this theme describe air quality in NSW and human-made greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.
Air free from harmful substances, such as bushfire smoke or chemicals from fossil fuel combustion, is vital for human health and the environment. We monitor to maintain good air quality.
Burning of fossil fuels and other human activities are leading to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere This is changing our climate with serious consequences.
Introduction to air and atmosphere
All the elements have Lore, cultural Lore, right LORE.
Air is crucial to the ecology. The trees, flora they breathe for us, for us to exist.
Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. They breathe for us, and we breathe for them. It is so important to look after something that feeds your lifeforce.
A big responsibility exists to look after our air, all plant forms, Country, this is all connected to our wellbeing.
Air quality
NSW air quality is generally good.
This means the air is free of harmful substances, or pollutants. We monitor air quality because human health may be impacted by short- or long-term exposure to pollutants.
In NSW, the major air pollutants monitored are particles and ozone. These mostly come from bushfire smoke, dust, and fossil fuel combustion from motor vehicles and industry.
Key findings from the 2024 report
- NSW air quality met national standards most of the time.
- The number of days exceeding these standards varies greatly each year depending on natural climate variations and local weather.
- Without addressing air pollution, health impacts will continue to increase as our population grows and becomes denser.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Global concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activities have been increasing since the pre-industrial era (before 1750) with a large increase of 42% occurring between 1990 and 2019.
In NSW, greenhouse gas emissions mostly come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy.
These gases (mostly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) build up in the atmosphere. This is causing the earth to warm up and our climate to change, with serious consequences.
See the and topics for more information about the impact that increased greenhouse gas emissions is having on the earth.
Key findings from the 2024 report
- Global net greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide continue to increase.
- Australian and NSW net greenhouse gas emissions are slowly decreasing.
- NSW net greenhouse gas emissions in 2021–22 were 111 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) per annum, which is 27% lower than the rate of emissions in 2004–05.
- The electricity generation sector was the highest contributor, followed by transport and agriculture.
- Emissions from the electricity generation sector, have been slowly decreasing due to the uptake of renewable energy.
- The transport sector is the second highest contributor. It decreased marginally since 2005 and expected to increase by 2030.
- The land use, land use change and forestry sector has shifted from a carbon emitter to a sink since 1993.
- Annual emissions continue to decouple (separate) from both population and economic drivers.
- This topic's 'global concentrations of greenhouse gases' indicator aligns to the 'climate change' planetary boundary. Globally, this boundary has been crossed (see ).