Online GHG emissions reduction target Analyzer

Announcement

From: The ValueAdd Company

Date: 26 August 2009

Subject: The launch of an online GHG emissions reduction target Analyzer

In an effort to increase the understanding of various Emissions Trading Scheme related policy suggestions, The ValueAdd Company has launched an online Greenhouse gas emissions reduction target Analyzer.

For the first time, anyone can calculate (i) the price increases needed in the energy sector to mitigate emissions to achieve a user-definable target; and (ii) the new exotic forest plantings required to cover those mitigations from within NZ. There are also many more calculations undertaken and answers given in the model.

Spokesman Harvey Bell says that the unique aspect of NZ’s Greenhouse gas emissions profile is the fact that nearly 50% comes from the digestive systems of farmed animals, entering the atmosphere as methane and deemed 21 times more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

“There is currently known technology to eliminate these emissions from pasture feed animals, continues Bell.

“A counter-intuitive consequence of this science is that on the basis that an animal retains approximately 18% of any organic carbon it consumes, feeding a waste product such as palm kernel to cows is over 17 times more harmful to global warming than burning it!”

“I have been involved in various hui and other consultation meetings about Climate Change since February 2007 and have been concerned that not enough was known about the financial implications of any policy suggestions”, say Bell.

“I have to say that some of the answers provided by the Analyzer have surprised me. For example the increase in petrol prices to cover the mitigation costs of minus 20% and minus 40% scenarios are 4.1 cents and 5.2 cents per litre respectively. Electricity price rises would be less than 1 cent per unit (Kwhr). If energy prices increases were required to cover all animal emissions, the price increases needed would be 6.6 cents and 8.8 cents. Electricity is still under 1 cent per unit.”

The JavaScript Analyzer can be accessed at www.carboncalcs.com/nz/target.

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