Please mind the gap: Examining regional variations in private vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and fuel consumption—The case of Australia

Abstract

This study investigates the geographic and annual variations in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and fuel consumption generated by private vehicles across Australia's regions over an 18-year period (2002 to 2020). We examine the influence of vehicle numbers, geography, and time on emissions and fuel consumption using spatial analysis alongside panel regression. Emissions remain relatively high in North Queensland, the Northern Territory, and South West Western Australia and Greater Sydney had steepest decline among the metropolitan regions. Modelling results reveal that higher numbers of internal combustion engine vehicles are positively associated with higher CO₂ emissions and fuel usage while higher numbers of electric vehicles are negatively associated. This underscores the importance of targeting high-emission regions for transitioning to electric vehicles. The current study provides empirical insights that hold important implications for policymakers concerning the spatial and temporal trends in private vehicle emissions with the potential to inform low-carbon transport planning.