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Two climate change reports to the United Nations released

Aotearoa New Zealand's emissions are projected to decrease between now and 2035, according to two major reports to the United Nations.

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New Zealand’s Eighth National Communication and Fifth Biennial Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) take stock of the impact of climate change on New Zealand, our action to reduce emissions and build a more climate-resilient future, and our support of developing countries.

The reports project New Zealand’s gross emissions will decrease from 78.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e) in 2020, to 66.7 Mt CO2-e in 2035.

All sectors are projected to see a decrease, except for transport emissions which are currently still increasing due to growth in travel demand. These are expected to plateau in 2023, and then decline due to uptake of electric vehicles, and continued improvements in fuel efficiency.

Net emissions are also projected to decrease from 55.5 Mt CO2-e in 2020 to 41.2 Mt CO2-e in 2035, after an initial increase to 63.8 Mt CO2-e in 2025. Net emissions include forestry, so trends are influenced by planting and harvesting cycles. A relatively large proportion of our production forest estate was planted in the 1980s and 1990s and is now being harvested and replanted.

The reports also show that New Zealand will meet its 2020 target to reduce gross greenhouse gas emissions to 5 per cent below 1990 levels, pending expert review. This will be met through emissions reductions, contributions from forestry activities and international units.

Since the last National Communication was published in 2017, Aotearoa has declared a climate emergency, and taken significant steps to reduce emissions and adapt to the impact of a changing climate. That includes updating the Climate Change Response Act to contribute to the global effort to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C, strengthening the Emissions Trading Scheme, and publishing the first emissions reduction plan and national adaptation plan which lay the groundwork for the future.

New Zealand is also investing in climate change research including the establishment of a new Centre for Climate Action on Agricultural Emissions.

Overseas, New Zealand’s support includes New Zealand’s International Development Cooperation programme, continued support of multilateral climate funds, and work to strengthen the climate capability and capacity of Pacific countries. We have committed $1.3 billion in grant-based climate finance between 2022 and 2025 to support developing countries.