Greenhouse gases are a natural part of the atmosphere. The major greenhouse gases are

• water vapour
• carbon dioxide
• methane
• oxides of nitrogen
• halocarbons

Human actions – particularly the burning of fossil fuels and land clearing – are increasing the concentration of these gases. The transport system is a major contributor to greenhouse gases because it primarily uses non-renewable fossil fuels (petrol and diesel).

Transport is currently the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Australia, behind electricity generation and agriculture, and posted the highest increase over the period 1997-1999.

Source: 1999 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Australian Greenhouse Office.

Road transport accounts for the majority of energy use, most of which is urban travel and in passenger cars.

Burning fuels uses energy. For more information about resource use in the transport sector visit Energy SA.

Increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the environment contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect and produces global warming. Global Warming predictions and impacts have been modelled by CSIRO.

More information is available from the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory of the Australian Greenhouse Office.