More accurate science improves agriculture’s GHG profile

April 15, 2011

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has revised down its projections for New Zealand’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions due to advances in the scientific methodology used to calculate them.

Emissions from agriculture are now projected to be around four percent lower over the first commitment period (CP1) (2008-2012) of the Kyoto Protocol, than projected this time last year.

MAF manager, Information and Analysis, Alice Marfell-Jones, says the change is largely due to more accurate science being applied to calculations and specifically, to a change in the method of calculating nitrous oxide emissions from dung and urine.

“In the past, a single emissions factor has been used for both dung and urine. This year, a separate, lower emissions factor was used for dung, reflecting the most up-to-date science available, which tells us that dung results in less nitrous oxide emissions than urine.

“Overall, the agriculture sector’s contribution to New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emission in CP1 is projected to be 7.4 Mt of CO2 or four percent lower than stated in the 2010 Net Position report.”

Other changes that have impacted on the agricultural projections include fewer production animals and reduced production resulting in lower emissions and an increased use of nitrogen fertiliser, increasing emissions.

Alice says new information and better science are constantly being applied to all areas of climate change work and result in greater accuracy.

MAF’s work in the area of agricultural GHG science and reporting was recently commended by the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) expert review team (ERT), following their in-country review of New Zealand’s National inventory report, completed last year.

The commendations reinforce the way New Zealand applies new science to its work on agricultural GHG reporting and on the robustness of this approach.

The ERT specifically commended New Zealand on its formation and functioning of an independent Agriculture Inventory Advisory Panel, which strengthens the link between the latest research achievements and improvements of the inventory.

The ERT also commended New Zealand for incorporating the effect of the nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide (DCD), into its country-specific emissions factors, as DCD represents a potentially significant mitigation option that may gain increased use over time.

The agricultural GHG emissions projections make up agriculture’s contribution to the 2011 Net Position, a publication that updates New Zealand’s projected quantity of greenhouse gas emissions and removals during CP1.

The information was issued today by the Ministry for the Environment, together with the 1990 - 2009 National Inventory Report.

ENDS

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