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New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions

The Ministry’s latest report on New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions shows that emissions for 2005 were 77.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (Mt CO2-e), a 24.7 per cent over the 1990 level.

New Zealand is unusual amongst developed nations in the share of its total greenhouse gas emissions that comes from agriculture. Nearly half of New Zealand's total emissions are produced by agriculture, predominantly methane from farm animals and nitrous oxide from soils and fertilisers. According to estimates in New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory: 1990-2005, these agricultural emissions are 15 per cent above 1990 levels.

However, the principal growth in New Zealand's emissions comes from increased carbon dioxide (CO2), primarily from the energy sector which has grown by almost 42 per cent relative to its emissions in 1990. Most of this increase has come from transport (65% increase in emissions) and electricity generation (a 135% increase in emissions. About two thirds of New Zealand's electricity production comes from hydro power stations, but there has been an increasing proportion of fossil fuelled electricity generation, initially from Maui gas and increasingly from coal. This means that electricity sector emissions are growing at a rapid rate.

Another unique characteristic of New Zealand's greenhouse footprint is its forest sinks. New Zealand's plentiful forests, including the planting of a great number of post-1990 pinus radiata forests, mean that it can expect to absorb around 57 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period (2008 to 2012). However, this should not give rise to complacency as forest plantings since 1990 have been falling steadily over the past decade.

Kyoto Protocol

Under the Kyoto Protocol, New Zealand will have to limit its levels of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels, on average, during the period 2008 to 2012. If we cannot reach this target, we will have to take responsibility for any excess emissions.

In 1990, our total greenhouse gas emissions were equivalent to almost 62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The most recent data indicates that total greenhouse gas emissions have risen by 24.7 per cent since 1990 and projections indicate that we will be above our emission reduction target during 2008 to 2012.

New Zealand’s net position

Each year, a whole-of-government process led by the Ministry for the Environment produces a ‘net position’ report for the Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues. The report provides a forecast of New Zealand’s likely balance of emissions units during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Liability/Provision

The Treasury provides the official figures on provision for the Kyoto Liability. For the latest estimate of the official Kyoto Provision visit New Zealand's liability under the Kyoto Protocol.