New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions decreased slightly in 2021 from the previous year by 0.7 percent, according to new data published on Thursday by the Ministry for the Environment.
The ministry's greenhouse gas inventory report showed a lower emissions decrease for 2021 than in 2020 when emissions plunged 3 percent due to COVID-19.
According to the report, the agriculture (49 percent) and energy sectors (41 pct) contributed the most to New Zealand's gross emissions in 2021.
But agriculture emissions were also down by 1.5 percent, making it a large driver in New Zealand's overall decrease, the report said.
The environment ministry said New Zealand's dairy cattle and sheep number reductions, and less use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, contributed to the decrease in agriculture emissions.
"Emissions in the waste sector reduced by 1.6 percent in 2021 compared to 2020, but as this sector is a smaller contributor to our gross emissions, it had a smaller overall impact," the ministry said in a statement.
"COVID-19 continued to have some impact on emissions in 2021 but was not the biggest driver of reductions. Energy emissions, which include transport, increased by 0.3 percent compared to 2020 but remained below pre-pandemic levels."
New Zealand has a target to reach 50 percent below the country's 2005 emissions by 2030.
"It is good to see that Government action is starting to reduce our climate emissions. We just need more of it," said Climate Change Minister James Shaw.
"While today's data shows we are taking the right steps, to get where we need to be the steps will need to keep getting bigger."
It comes after data last week showed New Zealand's greenhouse gases fell by 3.5 percent in 2022's September quarter.
Newshub.
