Greenhouse gases
Output 3: Improved measurement and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from the terrestrial biosphere
Rationale
New Zealand must meet its international greenhouse gas reporting obligations and decrease net emissions of greenhouse gases from terrestrial systems to below ‘business as usual’ levels. To achieve this, it is necessary to have (1) a robust inventory of net emissions and carbon storage and (2) effective mitigation options for reducing net emissions. Changes in emissions and carbon storage as a consequence of management, land use and global change can then be forecasted and appraised. New Zealand is required to produce an annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
While there has been a lot of research effort to estimate changes in above-ground carbon storage in vegetation with land-use management, much less is known about the effects on soil carbon storage. Although New Zealand’s commitment to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions does not include changes in soil carbon storage, we are required to report such changes annually in relation to land management and land-use change.
Research is needed to develop new methodology for measuring soil carbon storage and for reducing uncertainty for estimating and scaling emissions, and quantifying changes in emissions as a consequence of key land-use and management change. This will allow mitigation strategies to be developed and approaches for increasing carbon storage to be identified and adopted. This is an area in which the science challenges are substantial and we are developing new national and international collaborations to address them. We have a significant role to play and are acknowledged internationally for our expertise in carbon and nitrous oxide science.
Impact 1 : Terrestrial greenhouse gas emissions and removals are understood and quantified so that changes in relation to management strategies, land-use policies and global change can be predicted.
KPI 1 |
Progress |
| MPI and MfE are using verified estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage to reduce uncertainty in national inventories. |
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Impact 2 : Strategies for land use and asset management increase carbon storage, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and balance environmental, economic and social benefits.
KPI 2 |
Progress |
| Agricultural land managers and DOC are, where appropriate, using validated methodologies and land-use practices to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage and adapt to likely climate change effects. |
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