After a hurried and much criticised public consultation the Government has tabled New Zealand's 2030 emissions target in preparation for the UNFCCC meetings to be held later this year in Paris, where countries intend to establish the framework for the next international climate change agreement.
At first glance the Government's 30% reduction target appears to align with the majority of submitters who urged in the consultation for ambitious cuts of up to 40% below 1990 levels to prevent dangerous climate change. However, the baseline year for the 30% reduction is 2005, which equates to a target of only reducing emissions to 11% below 1990 levels.
At first glance the Government's 30% reduction target appears to align with the majority of submitters who urged in the consultation for ambitious cuts of up to 40% below 1990 levels to prevent dangerous climate change. However, the baseline year for the 30% reduction is 2005, which equates to a target of only reducing emissions to 11% below 1990 levels.
The target is likely to be met with criticism given that other developed nations such as the EU have pledged targets of more than 40% reductions below 1990 levels. NZ's low target places it alongside other developed economies that have traditionally dragged their heels on climate change action such as the USA and Canada who have also opted to use 2005 as the baseline.
However unlike the US who have ruled out the use of international units to help them meet their target, NZ has made its target contingent upon the unrestricted access to global carbon markets. In addition its target is provisional until accounting rules for the land sector including forestry are finalised. A change in forestry accounting methods can lead to significant shifts in a country's carbon books. This has relevance for NZ which is facing a significant rise in emissions under current UN rules from the large scale harvest of its post-1989 forest estate due to start from 2025.
While the Government has reaffirmed NZ's pledge to reduce emissions 50% below 1990 levels by 2050, it is difficult to see how this can be achieved with such an unambitious 2030 target.
More information on the post-2020 climate change target can be found at the Ministry for the Environment website here.
However unlike the US who have ruled out the use of international units to help them meet their target, NZ has made its target contingent upon the unrestricted access to global carbon markets. In addition its target is provisional until accounting rules for the land sector including forestry are finalised. A change in forestry accounting methods can lead to significant shifts in a country's carbon books. This has relevance for NZ which is facing a significant rise in emissions under current UN rules from the large scale harvest of its post-1989 forest estate due to start from 2025.
While the Government has reaffirmed NZ's pledge to reduce emissions 50% below 1990 levels by 2050, it is difficult to see how this can be achieved with such an unambitious 2030 target.
More information on the post-2020 climate change target can be found at the Ministry for the Environment website here.
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