Request for information on emissions calculations

Details of the request

1. As copied from the Report, Section 5 on page 16;

Section 5: How are emissions calculated? 

The single centralised emissions calculator will enable a consistent calculation across all farms, and will be designed to integrate data from existing calculators and other farm data sources. 

5.1 Emissions will be calculated using a single centralised calculator (or through existing tools and software that are linked to the centralised calculator). 

5.2 Methane will be calculated by weight of gas and nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions will be calculated in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 e). 

5.3 The calculator will have two methods – simple and detailed. 

5.4 Emissions and sequestration will be reported and paid for annually with a flexible year-end date that aligns with a farm’s annual tax accounts. 

5.5 Establishment of a process for updates to the centralised calculator including incorporation of new mitigations or sequestration opportunities. 

5.6 Prior to implementation of the pricing system, further work is required on the emissions reporting methodology for the minor livestock sectors including, deer, dairy goats, pork, poultry, and sheep milking. 

The proposed levy is not now based on a farms ''foot print'', but may be determined by calculation, using a 'single centralised calculator'. 

Who will oversee the accuracy and fairness of the results of this 'calculator? 

2. You confirm there is a green house gas inventory and that the next GHG inventory will be released in April 2023.

Who updates and maintains the inventory? 

How does the CCC check and confirm that the inventory is accurate? 

3. Please provide your physical evidence to confirm your statements, that;

a) ''Every tonne of methane that is emitted contributes to global warming''?

b) "Methane emissions keep the planet a lot warmer than it would be otherwise''?

c) ''Bringing global carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050 is vital to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C''?

4. How will ''all emissions from the Agriculture and Waste sectors'' be determined?

As the emissions recorded for the GHG inventory. 

5. Why if the emissions from ALL Agriculture sectors includes poultry and goats, why then not include the five million humans in NZ. Humans that breath out at least 4% CO2?

6. You have stated that the 23% difference noted in the Zero Carbon Act equates 'to 7708 kt CO2-e, or 308 kt of methane.

The Act refers to just methane so why do you also now include carbon dioxide? 

7. Please confirm the source of your figures; ''7708 kt CO2-e, or 308 kt of methane''

What then is the equivalence of these figures to either ppm (parts per million) of Kt.? 

8. If the methane in our atmosphere changes by say 10% (ie 0.000019% of all GHGs), then what is the ''major impact'' of this 10%?

Plus what is your scientific based evidence that methane will have a ''major impact''? 

It is reported that by calculations, the sensitivity of methane is just 0.06°C.  

This quote from the paper ''The Impact of CO2, H2O and Other 'Greenhouse Gases' on Equilibrium Earth Temperatures'', published on 23 August 2021 in the International Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, which paper has never been refuted, may help; 

''The contribution of CH4 and N2O is miniscule. Not only have they contributed a mere 0.3Kelvin to current earth temperatures, their climate sensitivities to a doubling of their present atmospheric concentrations are 0.06 and 0.08 Kelvin respectively.'' 

9. You have advised that it is not within the Commission's role to ''independently audit valid information'' from other than the IPCC.

Given that the IPCC is on record as having willfully ignored its own Error Reporting Protocol on four occasions, how then does the CCC confirm that the IPCC reports based on modeling is in fact scientifically accurate and valid before you make recommendations to Government? 

10. How then can you also say that '' we do not consider that any other organisation is likely to hold information'' related to my final question?

Finally I add that Section 11 of NZ's Fair Trading Act 1986 states that 'no person shall, in trade, engage in conduct that is liable to mislead the public as to the nature, characteristics, suitability for a purpose, or quantity of services'. I believe that Section 11 of the NZ's Fair Trading Act 1986 applies to the Directors of CCC, a consulting organisation that advises the Government. If you disagree with me that this Act applies to the Climate Change Commission, please explain how and why you do not agree.