14 Car Pollution Statistics in Australia: Updated in 2024

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.

Vehicles are a necessity in our modern life, both for commuting and transport. However, while driving is convenient for us, it is not so beneficial for the planet and our health. Fuel emissions from cars are released into the air and cause a significant amount of pollution, worldwide.

With all the drivers and cars in Australia, the air pollution rate is quite high. However, with some preventative measures, Australia, and the world, could significantly lower their car pollution footprint.

Read on to learn some statistics about car pollution in Australia, why it occurs, and ways to prevent it.

Click below to jump ahead:

• The Reason Behind High Car Pollution in Australia
• The Volume of Car Pollution in Australia
• Prevention Efforts

The 14 Car Pollution Statistics in Australia

1. As of January 2021, Australia had over 20.14 million registered motor vehicles.
2. Over 75% of Australians drive to work or school.
3. Only 16% of the Australian population uses public transport on a daily basis.
4. An average car is estimated to produce double its weight in CO2 emissions every year, contributing to pollution and global warming.
5. Australia was ranked second worst for transport energy efficiency out of the 23 countries participating in a recent study.
6. Australian transport represents the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, and the numbers keep growing.
7. In Australia, cars cause over 60% of the country’s total transport pollution.
8. Australia’s transport contributes to 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.
9. Vehicles in Australia’s major cities contribute to over 60% of nitrogen oxide emissions.
10. With the new Paris Agreement, Australia committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 26%–28% by 2030, hopefully transitioning to no emissions before 2050.
11. If Australians purchase vehicles with the best-in-class emission rates, the average CO2 emissions would be 60% lower for new light vehicles.
12. Switching to hybrid vehicles might be essential in Australia, as hybrid cars use up to 50% less fuel and emit approximately 30% less CO2 than regular vehicles.
13. Electric cars would also help Australia resolve its pollution problem as they are 3–5 times more efficient than regular cars.
14. Australia recently had a large increase in demand for electric vehicles, which was over 65% in 2022.

The Reason Behind High Car Pollution in Australia

1. As of January 2021, Australia had over 20.14 million registered motor vehicles.

(STATISTA)

One of Australia’s most significant issues that lead to high car pollution is the growing number of drivers and registered vehicles. In January 2020, the number of registered vehicles in Australia was 19.8 million, reaching over 20.14 million registered motor vehicles in 2022. It is predicted the number of cars in Australia will rise, meaning the pollution will remain high or become even higher.

The forecasts predict that the increase in motor vehicle registrations in 2023 will increase by 1.9%.

2. Over 75% of Australians drive to work or school.

(ABS)

Since there are so many vehicles in Australia, the majority of the population, around 8 million people, drive to work or school every day. While the commute allows people to quickly reach their destination and travel from point A to point B, it also immensely adds to air pollution in Australia.

3. Only 16% of the Australian population uses public transport on a daily basis.

(ABS)

Public transportation is an excellent way to reduce pollution and lower your carbon footprint. However, only 16% of the Australian population uses public transportation, which is quite worrisome. Unfortunately, Australia lacks the infrastructure for public transportation, which may be the main reason why not many Australians use it.  The country is trying to improve public transportation, so there should be changes soon.

4. An average car is estimated to produce double its weight in CO2 emissions every year, contributing to pollution and global warming.

(RAC)

An average Australian car is estimated to produce double its weight in CO2 emissions yearly. While Australia is a modern, developed country, it has no standards for new light vehicles, so many new cars release high emissions while driving. These emissions contribute greatly to air pollution.

The Volume of Car Pollution in Australia

5. Australia was ranked second worst for transport energy efficiency out of the 23 countries participating in a recent study.

(Climate Change)

A recent study did an energy efficiency ranking for transport in 23 countries, and Australia was ranked second worst. The reason why Australia got such a bad ranking was due to multiple factors, including:

Overall, the transport emissions in Australia are 45% higher than the OECD average, which is alarming.

6. Australian transport represents the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country, and the numbers keep growing.

(Climate Council)

It’s undeniable that pollution is a huge problem for Australia. While pollution comes from multiple sources, transport represents the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Unfortunately, the number of greenhouse gases from transport keeps growing more than in other sectors as the number of drivers and registered cars increases. Regarding transport emissions, cars are responsible for approximately half.

7. In Australia, cars cause over 60% of the country’s total transport pollution.

(Climate Council)

Currently, around 25 million people live in Australia, out of which at least 8 million drive their cars daily. Because of so many cars and the frequency of their usage, they cause over 60% of Australia’s total transport pollution, which is significantly higher than the average transport emissions in other countries. As the public transportation infrastructure is not developed, there’s no way for some people to reach their destination unless they use a car.

8. Australia’s transport contributes to 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

(NTC)

Transport in Australia contributes to 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the country. In 2021, the average gas emission intensity for SUVs and passenger cars was 146.5 grams per kilometer, while the average gas emission intensity for light commercial vehicles and heavy SUVs was 212.5 grams per kilometer. Both showcase a decrease of 2% compared to previous years, but the emissions rate is still quite high.

9. Vehicles in Australia’s major cities contribute to over 60% of nitrogen oxide emissions.

(CDN)

While vehicles may not represent a huge problem in rural parts of Australia, they are a huge issue in major cities. Vehicles in Australia’s largest cities contribute between 60% and 70% of nitrogen oxide emissions into the air. Because of this, the rate of pollution and health problems continues to rise in highly populated Australian cities. These emissions represent a problem to the whole community as they cause various health issues, including:

Prevention Efforts

10. With the new Paris Agreement, Australia committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 26%–28% by 2030, hopefully transitioning to no emissions before 2050.

(Climate Council)

While the previous government of Australia wasn’t interested in reducing its emissions, the new government has finally started to make some changes. With the new Paris Agreement, Australia committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 26%–28% by 2030, hopefully transitioning to no emissions before 2050. The new emissions target represents a way for Australia to lower pollution and positively impact climate change. The government is also looking for other ways to resolve the national energy crisis, which includes investing in renewable energy. While there are no precise details on how Australia will lower its emissions, the suggestion is to set up a mechanism that will require big polluters to pay a fee if they go over the allowed emission range.

11. If Australians purchase vehicles with the best-in-class emission rates, the average CO2 emissions would be 60% lower for new light vehicles.

(NTC)

While the Australian government is still thinking of all the possible ways to lower their pollution and emissions, some things are quite clear. While the level of emissions depends on the country and the government, it also depends on its people. Research shows that if Australians purchase vehicles with the best-in-class emission rates, the average CO2 emissions would be 60% lower for new light vehicles.

12. Switching to hybrid vehicles might be essential in Australia, as hybrid cars use up to 50% less fuel and emit approximately 30% less CO2 than regular vehicles.

(Energy)

If you’re wondering why hybrid vehicles are beneficial for the environment and how they can help Australia, the answer is simple. Switching to hybrid vehicles might be essential in Australia, as hybrid cars use up to 50% less fuel and emit approximately 30% less CO2 than regular vehicles. Because of this, hybrid cars have less impact on the environment, pollution, global warming, and climate change. If you live in Australia and are looking for a new vehicle, we recommend checking greener models to help your country deal with car pollution.

13. Electric cars would also help Australia resolve its pollution problem as they are 3–5 times more efficient than regular cars.

(Climate Change Authority)

Another way for Australia to resolve its car pollution problem is to invest in electric cars, which are 3–5 times more efficient than regular cars. Instead of using fossil fuels, the main cause of greenhouse emissions, electric cars rely on electricity to charge their batteries. Besides being better for the environment, these cars are also more efficient and cheaper to maintain than typical vehicles that use gas.

14. Australia recently had a large increase in the demand for electric vehicles, which was over 65% in 2022.

(Electric Vehicle Council)

Australia would highly benefit from electric vehicles and luckily, it seems like the people of Australia finally realized that as well. While the interest and demand in electric vehicles were quite low during the last few years, the situation drastically changed in 2022. In fact, Australia experienced a 65% increase in the demand for electric vehicles, which is a massive step towards reducing car pollution in Australia. Per the latest predictions, the percentage should increase by 2% next year, meaning that Australia is already making changes toward its zero emissions goal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Pollution in Australia

How Much Do Cars Contribute to Car Pollution in Australia?

Cars represent a major issue for Australia and its pollution levels, especially since they’re the main source of transport emissions. Over 8 million Australians drive their cars every day, and pollution coming from cars represents 60% of the country’s total pollution, which is troubling, considering it’s not an issue that can be resolved overnight.

Conclusion

Car pollution represents one of Australia’s biggest challenges and it’s important to resolve the pollution issue as soon as possible. With new goals for their emissions that should hopefully get to zero by 2050, Australia is on a good path towards resolving its car pollution issue. If you live in Australia, you should also show your support and try to make changes in your life that will decrease car pollution and help the environment.

Featured Image Credit: Matt Boitor, Unsplash