Media Release

2 August, 2007

Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions increased slightly in 2006

The Ministry of Economic Development today released an annual report on New Zealand's energy greenhouse gas emissions. The report ‘Energy Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2006' updates New Zealand’s energy related emissions to the end of the 2006 calendar year.

Energy related greenhouse gas emissions increased slightly in 2006 compared to 2005. Emissions from the combustion of liquid fuels (accounting for over half of all energy emissions) increased 0.8% between 2005 and 2006. Emissions from thermal electricity generation decreased by 1.4% over the same period, mainly due to a higher proportion of gas, rather than coal, being used as fuel for electricity generation in 2006. Electricity generation from gas produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than coal fired generation.

The report shows that New Zealand's gross carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) emissions from the energy sector increased by 45% between 1990 and 2006. CO2-e emissions were about 23 million tonnes in 1990 and 34 million tonnes in 2006. About 95% percent of these emissions came from combustion activities in 2006, including for transport, provision of heat to industry and thermal electricity generation, with the rest from fugitive emissions from fuels. Carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes, such as the chemical processes used in the production of iron and steel, also contributed to New Zealand’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.

The report assists in meeting the Government’s reporting obligations for greenhouse gas emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The report also contains a wealth of useful material for those with an interest in the climate change issue.

The format of this year’s report has been changed to make it more user friendly. A streamlined summary report is available in hard copy, supplemented by a full set of detailed tables available from the MED website:

http://www.med.govt.nz/energy/ghg/

The hard copy of the report costs $40.00 (excluding postage and GST).

ENDS

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