WELLINGTON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows emissions are on the rise, underscoring why the government is taking action on climate change, Minister for Climate Change James Shaw said on Thursday.
The inventory showed New Zealand's gross emissions increased 2.2 percent between 2016 and 2017, and have increased by 23.1 percent between 1990 and 2017.
"That shows why we need the kind of clear policies and actions the government's proposing on climate change," Shaw said in a statement.
Net emissions, which are New Zealand's gross emissions minus carbon dioxide absorbed by forestry, have increased by 65 percent since 1990, according to the inventory, which showed that the country's two largest contributing sectors for gross emissions in 2017, were agriculture and energy.
"Road transport emissions and fossil fuel-generated electricity production were the big drivers for the emissions increase we've seen between 2016 and 2017," Shaw said, adding the government intends to have enduring climate change legislation passed into law this year.
The legislation will establish the independent Climate Change Commission to provide advice on emission budgets and help keep the government on track towards the country's long-term climate change goals.
"Reforms of New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme, which will also enter Parliament this year, will provide additional incentives for industry to reduce emissions over time," the minister said.
