healthier, happier and richer

Total national greenhouse gas emissions as a percentage of global total, 2004 figures

< 1%

Historical contribution – 1850 to 2000

< 1%

Change in annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990

+ 23%

2005 per capita annual greenhouse gas emissions

18.8 tonnes (without land use change, which is not a major contributor to New Zealand emissions).

Energy used per unit of GDP (compared to USA)

91%

(See NationMaster.com: Economy Statistics – GDP per unit of energy use (most recent) by country.)

Balance of energy sources, 2007

	%
Oil	37
Gas	21.75
Renewables	20.5
Hydro	12
Coal	9

Energy security

“Coal is New Zealand’s most abundant fossil fuel and has been an important energy source since the late nineteenth century. Coal beds are present in the Northland, Waikato, and Taranaki Coal Regions of the North Island and in the Nelson, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland Coal Regions of the South Island.”

(See USGS: New Zealand Coal Resources.)

New Zealand has been self-sufficient in gas, but its largest known gas field (Maui) is almost depleted. Other gas fields have been opened and are being developed. New Zealand imports oil.

Electricity generated, 2007

	%
Hydro	54
Gas	27.75
Geothermal	8
Coal	7.25
Wind	2

Installed wind capacity

2002               35 Mw

2009               497 Mw

Electricity – supply and demand

“New generation plant is needed to meet electricity demand growth of about 2% a year and to ensure security of supply in dry years.”

(See New Zealand Geothermal Association: Electricity Supply.)

Percentage of agriculture certified as organic

0.26%

Cars per thousand of population

560