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Emissions by sector

Greenhouse gas emission estimates are based on international guidance established by the IPCC and follow an internationally agreed reporting format that groups emissions and removals into six sectors. Trends in emissions by sector over the period 1990–2007 are shown in Figure 5. The change in total emissions between 1990 and 2007 for all reported sectors except LULUCF is shown in Figure 6. The contribution of each sector to total emissions in 2007 is indicated in Figures 7 and 14.

  • In 2007, the agriculture sector was the largest source of emissions, contributing 48 per cent (36.4 Mt CO2-e) to total emissions. As a result, New Zealand has a unique emissions profile compared to other developed countries where agricultural emissions are typically around 11 per cent of national emissions. In 2007, agricultural emissions had increased 12 per cent (3.9 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 32.5 Mt CO2-e. In 2007, the agriculture sector contributed 96 per cent (12.4 Mt CO2-e) of New Zealand’s total nitrous oxide emissions and 91 per cent (24.1 Mt CO2-e) of total methane emissions.
  • The energy sector was the source of 43 per cent (32.7 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions in 2007. In 2007, energy emissions had increased 39 per cent (9.2 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 23.5 Mt CO2-e. This growth in emissions was primarily from electricity generation, heat production and transport.
  • The industrial processes sector accounted for 6 per cent (4.6 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions in 2007. In 2007, emissions from the industrial processes sector had increased 35 per cent (1.2 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 3.4 Mt CO2-e. The increase was mainly due to growth in emissions from increased metal production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons.
  • The solvents and other products sector is a minor contributor to New Zealand’s total direct greenhouse gas emissions, as it accounted for 0.1 per cent (0.04 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions in 2007.
  • The waste sector accounted for 2 per cent (1.8 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions in 2007. In 2007, emissions from the waste sector had decreased 25 per cent (0.6 Mt CO2-e) from a 1990 level of 2.4 Mt CO2-e. This decrease was due to initiatives to improve solid waste management practices in New Zealand.
  • The net removals from LULUCF were 32 per cent (23.8 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions in 2007. LULUCF net removals had increased 31 per cent (5.7 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 18.1 Mt CO2-e.

Figure 5: Trends in greenhouse gas emissions by sector: 1990–2007
Figure 5: Trends in greenhouse gas emissions by sector: 1990–2007

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Figure 6: Change in sectoral greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2007
Figure 6: Change in sectoral greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2007

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Figure 7: New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions by sector: 2007
Figure 7: New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions by sector: 2007

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