NZ's total greenhouse gas emissions
Tuesday, 1 May 2018
The carbon dioxide emissions have been slowly decreasing since the enforcement of the 2005 UN-led Kyoto Protocol agreement to reduce the greenhouse gases.
New Ministry for the Environment data shows carbon dioxide emissions reached its peak in 2006, with the country producing about 37,500 kilotonnes. In 2016, this reduced to about 34,400kt.
Similarly the production of methane also hit its peak in 2006 at 35,000kt and reduced slightly to 33,600kt a decade later.
The dairy and transport industries have been key contributors to New Zealand's gross green house gas emissions, according to the Ministry for Environment.
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In 2016 the agriculture and energy sectors were the two largest contributors to New Zealand's gross emissions, at almost 50 per cent and about 40 per cent respectively.
Net emissions have increased by about 54 per cent since 1990 due to more trees being cut down and an increase in gross emissions.
In 2016, about 5100 hectares of new forest was planted and 4945ha deforested, the ministry said.
The Productivity Commission's latest draft report on transitioning to a low-emissions economy included 50 recommendations on how best to address New Zealand's slow progress.
New Zealand's commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 50 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050, and 30 per cent below 2005 emission levels by 2030, will prove far more challenging, the report says.
Even more ambitious, is the Government's proposed Zero-Carbon Act that would set the target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Since 2006, nitrous oxide and hydrofluorocarbons have also increased .
Learn more about the information shown above, and explore more charts, at Figure.NZ's site.