• The ratio of total greenhouse gas emissions to real gross domestic product (GDP), which takes into account production and consumption levels, overall has fallen since 1990. This means fewer emissions are produced per unit of real GDP.
• Possible reasons include changes in the composition of the economy, for example the growth of the service sector, which produces relatively fewer greenhouse gases compared with other sectors.

Definition and measure

The greenhouse gas intensity indicator measures the relationship between the environment and economy by comparing two indicators. It measures whether emissions have grown or decreased faster or slower than growth in the economy.

Greenhouse gas intensity compares production in the economy, as measured by real GDP, with total greenhouse gas emissions. The New Zealand greenhouse gas inventory is compiled on a geographical/territorial basis whereas real GDP covers the activity of economic resident units.

Greenhouse gas emissions include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons. Each of these gases are converted into carbon dioxide equivalents. Real GDP is volume series, expressed in 1995/96 dollars, to remove the effect of price changes.

This information was produced by Statistic New Zealand.

Main Political Parties Gas Emission/Climate Change Policy 

• Act Party housing policy
• *Conservative NZ Principles
• Green Party
• Internet Party Policies 
• Labour Party Policy
• Maori Party
• *National Party policy
• New Zealand First
• United Future
  

*Please note – some parties seem not to have specific gas emission policies

Overview of Party Policies – source The New Zealand Herald  9 September