MFE Latest Kyoto Reports NZ Emissions up 25% from 1990 Levels

The latest Greenhouse Gas report was released by MFE today. The report tracks NZ's progress against the country's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations. 

 The main conclusions drawn include:

1. NZ emissions in 2012 were 25% higher than the year 1990. This is primarily due to increased agriculture and transport.
2. NZ's net emissions are slightly less than our Kyoto target of 309 million tonnes, mainly through our forests sinks removal of carbon.
3. There is a surplus of 90 million credits in the New Zealand Registry above the Kyoto requirements. This is due to the influx of cheap foreign Kyoto units from countries such as Ukraine.
   
4. NZ has the 5th highest emissions per capita out of  40 industrialised countries with an average of 16.6 tonnes of CO2e per person compared with the average of around 11 tonnes per person.

To read Minister Grosser's Release click here. To read the the MFE Report click here.