Year 10 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 8
Apply Worksheet
Learning Goals
Compare two
Complete the table to compare how Australia's emissions are counted. Fill in all blank cells.
| Feature | Territorial emissions | Exported emissions |
|---|---|---|
| What is being measured | ||
| Which country's inventory it counts in (Paris rules) | ||
| Approximate annual size for Australia (CO₂-e) | ||
| One argument that uses this measure |
Real-world context
At a Pacific Islands Forum meeting, leaders of Tuvalu and Vanuatu, low-lying nations facing existential risk from sea-level rise, call on Australia to "account for the emissions it sends overseas." Australia exports about 365 million tonnes of coal each year. When burned, this produces roughly 700 to 800 Mt of CO₂-e, around three to four times Australia's own territorial emissions of about 496 Mt CO₂-e. An Australian official replies that, under Paris Agreement rules, those emissions are counted by the countries that buy and burn the coal, not by Australia.
(a) Explain why, under current international accounting rules, the Australian official is technically correct that exported coal emissions are not counted in Australia's inventory.
(b) Use the data in the stimulus to explain why the Pacific leaders argue Australia should still take responsibility for these emissions. Refer to a specific number.
(c) A student says, "Australia only produces 1.3% of global emissions, so what we do makes no difference." Give two reasons, using evidence from the lesson, why this argument is weak.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?
For teacher / self-marking use. Accept reasonable equivalent wording.
Warm Up, Compare two
| Feature | Territorial emissions | Exported emissions |
|---|---|---|
| What is being measured | Greenhouse gases released by activities within Australia's borders | Greenhouse gases released when Australia's exported coal and gas are burned overseas |
| Which country's inventory it counts in (Paris rules) | Australia's own inventory | The importing (burning) country's inventory |
| Approximate annual size for Australia (CO₂-e) | About 496 Mt | About 700 to 800 Mt from coal (plus ~150 to 200 Mt from LNG) |
| One argument that uses this measure | "Australia is responsible only for what happens on its territory." | "Australia profits from and enables these emissions, so it shares responsibility." |
Your Turn
(a) Under the Paris Agreement (and earlier Kyoto Protocol) accounting system, emissions are counted using a "production"/territorial boundary: a country only counts emissions released by activities inside its own borders. Because Australia's exported coal is physically burned in the importing country, the resulting CO₂ is added to that country's inventory, not Australia's. (1 mark for territorial/production rule, 1 mark for it being burned overseas so counted there.)
(b) The exported emissions are about three to four times Australia's own territorial emissions, around 700 to 800 Mt CO₂-e from coal compared with about 496 Mt territorially. The leaders argue that if Australia stopped exporting, those emissions would not occur (or be greatly reduced), Australia profits from them, and the atmosphere does not recognise national accounting boundaries, so Australia shares responsibility. (1 mark for correct number/comparison, 1 mark for a valid responsibility reason.)
(c) Any two of: (i) Australia's per-capita emissions (~15 to 16 t/person) are among the highest in the OECD, roughly double the global average of ~7 t, so per person Australia is a large emitter; (ii) if every country emitting 1 to 2% of the global total used this reasoning, no collective action could ever happen; (iii) Australia's exported coal and gas produce 3 to 4 times its territorial emissions, giving it large global influence; (iv) Australia has influence as an OECD member and could become a green energy exporter. (1 mark each for two valid reasons with evidence, 1 mark for clear use of data.)