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Environment New Zealand 2007 questions and answers: Key findings - Atmosphere

Environment New Zealand 2007 publications

What are the key findings on atmosphere in the report?

In a nutshell

New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions profile remains unusual by comparison with other developed countries, with around half of our emissions coming from the agricultural sector.
While overall we are a small emitter by global standards, we rank 12th highest emitter on a population basis.
Our greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase as our population and economy grow.
Since 1990, emissions removed from the atmosphere by forestry continue to increase, representing around one-third of our total emissions.
Ozone levels over New Zealand have stabilised since the late 1990s, reversing decreases in the 1980s and early 1990s. Accordingly, the levels of ultraviolet radiation in New Zealand have dropped (improved) over recent years.

Facts and figures

While New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions represent much less than 1 per cent of global emissions, we rank 12th in the world for gases per head of population.
In 2005, total emissions of greenhouse gases in New Zealand were 77.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents.
Total emissions have increased from 1990 when 61.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gases were emitted.
Between 1990 and 2005, total greenhouse gas emissions increased by 25 per cent, reflecting our growing population and economy.
Methane and nitrous oxide from the agricultural sector contribute nearly 50 per cent of our total emissions.
Carbon dioxide emissions, largely from energy generation and transport, contribute most of the other 50 per cent.
Between 1990 and 2005, carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by forest growth (termed forest sinks) increased by 29 per cent to 24.5 million tonnes, largely because of increases in plantation forestry in the mid-1990s. This removal is equivalent to 32 per cent of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
The average ozone concentration in 2006 was 298 DU (Dobson Unit). Levels of ozone have stabilised since the late 1990s. The summertime UV index has tracked changes in ozone – that is to say, UV levels have shown improvement as ozone levels have stabilised.

What is the government doing to improve the health of the atmosphere?

A number of initiatives related to the findings of the Atmosphere chapter are underway and under development. These include a number of initiatives listed above under questions and answers about Air, as well as:

The 2007 announcement of an Emissions Trading Scheme which will price carbon emissions
The 2007 New Zealand Energy Strategy to 2050
The 2007 New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
Announcements in 2007 to achieve carbon neutrality in the public sector. Six departments will be carbon neutral by 2012, with the other 28 public service departments on a path to carbon neutrality by 2012.
2004 Amendment of the RMA to ensure the effects of climate change are taken into account in decision-making under the RMA
Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, launched in 2002
Projects to Reduce Emissions – 41 projects underway or complete to date
The 2007 Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change Plan of Action, covering adaptation to climate change, mitigation of climate change additional to the emissions trading scheme and business opportunities arising from climate change.
A number of other initiatives on transport, energy, waste, air quality and sustainable land and water management also contribute to the improvement of our atmosphere. They have been listed under other chapters.