Author Identifier (ORCID)
Soheil Kazemian: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3993-7381
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to address the global challenge of quantifying sectoral carbon emissions, offering a scalable methodology applicable across diverse national contexts. As one of the world’s leading greenhouse gas emitters, Australia has a critical role in achieving the Paris Climate Change Agreement’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050. The utility services sector – electricity, gas, water and waste services – has historically been Australia’s largest source of CO2-equivalent emissions. However, this also highlights its significant potential to contribute to national emission reductions through targeted mitigation strategies. This research analyses the total carbon footprint of Australia’s utility services sector from 2013 to 2017, identifying key supply chains, industries and products contributing to emissions. Utilising an economy-wide input-output analysis and the granular Australian Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab) framework, this study provides detailed disaggregation of sectors, offering insights into emission trends and benchmarking against other economic activities. The findings reveal that in 2017, the utility services sector accounted for 43.1% of Australia’s carbon footprint, compared to 37.2% of direct emissions. Commercial services and manufacturing emerged as the most significant contributors to embodied emissions within the utility services sector. Additionally, this research evaluates emissions across the sector’s five subsectors – electricity generation, transmission and distribution, gas supply, water supply and waste collection and treatment – to identify where low-carbon technologies could have the most significant impact. The results reveal that electricity transmission and electricity generation offer the highest potential for utilising low-carbon technologies effectively, providing a roadmap for prioritising investments in emissions reduction strategies. These findings, firstly, contribute to Australia’s sustainability goals and, secondly, offer a replicable model for countries facing similar industrial and environmental challenges. The findings reported in this paper support global efforts to achieve climate change mitigation targets. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopts a quantitative approach, employing multi-regional input-output analysis and the granular IELab framework to evaluate the carbon footprint of Australia’s utility services sector (2013–2017). The methodology identifies key supply chains, industries and products contributing to emissions and disaggregates data across five subsectors: electricity generation, transmission and distribution, gas supply, water supply and waste collection. Results are presented in both graphical and tabular formats for clarity. This approach highlights emission trends, benchmarks sectoral contributions and pinpoints opportunities for deploying low-carbon technologies, offering a scalable, replicable model for achieving emissions reduction and supporting global climate mitigation efforts. Findings – The findings reveal that in 2017, Australia’s utility services sector accounted for 43.1% of the national carbon footprint, surpassing its 37.2% share of direct emissions. Electricity generation and transmission were identified as the most significant contributors, with commercial services and manufacturing emerging as substantial sources of embodied emissions within the sector. The study highlights electricity transmission and generation as the subsectors with the highest potential for adopting low-carbon technologies. By pinpointing emission hotspots and offering detailed sectoral disaggregation, the results provide actionable insights for prioritising investment in emissions reduction strategies, advancing Australia’s sustainability goals and supporting global climate change mitigation. Research limitations/implications – This study focuses on the carbon footprint of Australia’s utility services sector using input-output analysis and the IELab framework. While these methodologies offer detailed sectoral disaggregation, they rely on available data, which may not fully capture dynamic changes in supply chains or technological advancements. Additionally, the research examines historical data (2013–2017), limiting its applicability to current emission trends. Future studies could address these limitations by incorporating real-time data and exploring regional variations within Australia. Despite these constraints, the findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, supporting targeted interventions to reduce emissions and achieve national and global climate change goals. Practical implications – The findings of this study provide actionable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders in the utility services sector. By identifying electricity transmission and generation as the subsectors with the highest potential for emissions reduction, the research offers a roadmap for prioritising investments in low-carbon technologies. Additionally, the results highlight the need for improved supply chain management and resource efficiency in commercial services and manufacturing. These practical implications support the development of targeted mitigation strategies, such as renewable energy adoption and technological upgrades, contributing to Australia’s sustainability goals and offering a replicable framework for addressing carbon emissions in other national contexts. Originality/value – This study provides a unique contribution by offering a comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint within Australia’s utility services sector, utilising a granular approach through the IELab framework combined with input-output analysis. By disaggregating emissions across five subsectors and identifying key contributors like electricity transmission and generation, the research offers targeted strategies for emissions reduction. The study not only supports Australia’s sustainability goals but also presents a scalable and replicable methodology for other nations facing similar challenges. This originality lies in bridging methodological rigour with practical applications, advancing academic understanding and real-world climate change mitigation efforts.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2025
Publication Title
Management of Environmental Quality
Publisher
Emerald
School
School of Business and Law
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Kazemian, S., Zaman, R., Foroughi, B., & Ghobakhloo, M. (2025). Determining the carbon footprint of Australia’s electricity, gas, water and waste services sector. Management of Environmental Quality an International Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-07-2024-0311