• What are greenhouse gases?

  Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases that are currently reported in New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory (the inventory) are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃).

• What does CO₂-e mean?

  It means carbon dioxide equivalent, where the non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions are expressed in terms of their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere over time relative to CO₂. This is referred to as the global warming potential of a greenhouse gas. Consistent with the inventory, the interactive emissions tracker displays the non-CO2 gases using their 100-year time horizon global warming potential (GWP100) values contained in the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report.

• How is it determined what sectors and categories emissions are reported from?

  They are determined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement.

• Why does the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector and some of the categories within that sector have negative values?

  The LULUCF sector and some of the categories within the LULUCF sector are currently net carbon sinks. This means that they remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than they emit. Removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere occurs primarily through the sequestration of CO₂ by plants. This carbon is then stored in plants, soil or wood products.

• Why are emissions from Tokelau included?

  New Zealand extended its ratification of the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement on 13 November 2017 to include Tokelau, an overseas dependent territory of New Zealand. Emissions from Tokelau are estimated for Energy, IPPU, Agriculture and Waste and reported separately as the Tokelau sector. Emissions from Tokelau have been included since New Zealand's 2019 inventory submission and are included in New Zealand's gross emissions.

• Why are road transportation emissions not broken down into vehicle type (car, truck, bus etc.)?

  Road transportation emissions for the years 1990-2000 (ie, Cars, Light duty trucks, Heavy duty trucks and buses and Motorcycles) are reported under 'All vehicle types' as the information available does not accurately segregate the emissions. Activity and emissions data for 2001 onward are divided between vehicle types based on first-order estimates. While total vehicle emissions are accurate, the exact breakdown between vehicle types should be considered an approximation.

• What LULUCF values are included here?

  LULUCF values included in the emissions tracker are as reported in the inventory in the LULUCF sector, known as LULUCF reporting. This covers all forestry and other land-use emissions and removals. LULUCF reporting is different from LULUCF target accounting, which only includes a subset of emissions and removals, that represent additional action from a reference point, and can be counted towards our emissions reduction targets. Note LULUCF target accounting estimates are not included in the emissions tracker.

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