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Emissions by gas

Inventory reporting under the Climate Change Convention covers six direct greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, perfluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. Trends in emissions over the period 1990–2007 are shown in Figure 2. The change in the total emissions between 1990 and 2007 is shown in Figure 3. Figures 4 and 14 provide an indication of the contribution of each direct greenhouse gas to total emissions in 2007. Removals of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are reported in the LULUCF sector. As required by the Climate Change Convention guidelines, indirect greenhouse gases (carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and non-methane volatile organic compounds) are reported in the inventory but are not included in total emissions.

  • Carbon dioxide contributed the largest share of all 2007 emissions at 47 per cent (35.2 Mt CO2-e). In 2007, carbon dioxide emissions had increased by 39 per cent (9.9 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 25.3 Mt CO2-e.
  • Methane contributed 35 per cent (26.6 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions in 2007. In 2007, methane emissions had grown by 4 per cent (1.1 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 25.4 Mt CO2-e.
  • Nitrous oxide contributed 17 per cent (12.8 Mt CO2-e) of emissions in 2007. This was an increase of 23 per cent (2.4 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 10.4 Mt CO2-e.
  • Perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and hydrofluorocarbons accounted for the remaining 1 per cent (0.9 Mt CO2-e).
  • Emissions of perfluorocarbons had decreased from 0.64 Mt CO2-e in 1990, to 0.04 Mt CO2-e in 2007, or 94 per cent (0.60 Mt CO2-e).
  • Emissions of sulphur hexafluoride had decreased 3 per cent (0.001 Mt CO2-e), from the 1990 level of 0.02 Mt CO2-e to the 2007 level of 0.01 Mt CO2-e.
  • In 1990, no hydrofluorocarbons were used in New Zealand. In 2007, 0.9 Mt CO2-e of hydrofluorocarbon emissions were produced.

Figure 2: Trends in greenhouse gas emissions by gas: 1990–2007
Figure 2: Trends in greenhouse gas emissions by gas: 1990–2007

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Figure 3: Change in greenhouse gas emissions by gas: 1990 to 2007

Figure 3: Change in greenhouse gas emissions by gas 1990 to 2007
Note: The per cent change for hydrofluorocarbons is not applicable (NA) as there was no use of hydrofluorocarbons in 1990.

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Figure 4: New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions by gas: 2007
Figure 4: New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions by sector: 2007

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