Motor vehicles emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. Not all vehicles will have the same impact. In vehicles, the principal greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), but vehicles also produce the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane. The vehicle's level of CO2 emissions is linked to the amount of fuel consumed and the type of fuel used.
In Australia in 2004, cars contributed 41.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gases, which is 7.4% of total national emissions. Trucks and light commercial vehicles contributed 26.2 million tonnes. Together these represent 12% of Australia's total emissions and since 1990 this figure has increased by 25%.
The Australian Department of Climate Change maintains Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts which has more information on the emissions of greenhouse gases in Australia.
Greenhouse Rating
On the Green Vehicle Guide, a higher Greenhouse Rating means the car produces lower levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). All new vehicle models up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass sold in Australia are tested to determine both the fuel consumption and the level of CO2 emissions. The test produces 3 results for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions - the 'urban', 'extra-urban' and 'combined' values. The combined CO2 emissions value is used to derive the Greenhouse Rating of a vehicle as illustrated in the table below. This information is also displayed on the Fuel Consumption Label attached to the windscreen of new vehicles.
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