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NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation
The Kyoto Protocol: issues forNew Zealand’s participation
Trade realities and New Zealand’s role in theinternational response to the threat of global warming
REPORT TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE PAN INDUSTRY GROUP
February 2002
The Climate Change Pan Industry Group includes:
4 THE GREENHOUSE POLICY COALITION(for further information see www.gpcnz.co.nz)
4 NEW ZEALAND FOREST INDUSTRIES COUNCIL
4 ROAD AND TRANSPORT FORUM OF NEW ZEALAND
4 TODD ENERGY
4 BUSINESS NEW ZEALAND
4 PETROLEUM EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION NEW ZEALAND
4 MEAT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
4 CARTER HOLT HARVEY
4 WELLINGTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
4 BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
The Institute, its contributors, employees and Board shall not be liable for any loss or damagesustained by any person relying on this report, whatever the cause of such loss or damage.
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) ,based in Wellington, was founded in 1958 as a non-profitmaking trust to provide economic research and consultancy
services. Best known for its long-established Quarterly Survey of
Business Opinion and forecasting publications, Quarterly
Predictions and the annual Industry Outlook with five-yearlyprojections for 22 sectors, the Institute also undertakes a widerange of consultancy activities for government and privateorganisations. It obtains most of its income from researchcontracts obtained in a competitive market and trades on itsreputation for delivering quality analysis in the right form, andat the right time, for its clients. Quality assurance is providedon the Institute’s work :
• by the interaction of team members on individual projects;
• by exposure of the team’s work to the critical review of a broader
range of Institute staff members at internal seminars;
• by providing for peer review at various stages through a project by
a senior staff member otherwise disinterested in the project;
• and sometimes by external peer reviewers at the request of a client,
although this usually entails additional cost.
Authorship
This report has been prepared at NZIER by Alex Sundakov,Jean-Pierre de Raad and John Ballingall.
NZ INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH (INC.)
8 Halswell St. Thorndon
P O BOX 3479 WELLINGTON
NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: 64 4 472 1880
Fax: 64 4 472 1211
Website: www.nzier.org.nz
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation i
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides an assessment of the economic impact of Kyoto Protocol policies on
New Zealand, with a focus on international competitiveness issues. The report also considers
the likely evolution of climate change policies internationally, and what that means for policy
options open to New Zealand.
We conclude that early ratification does not represent the best means for New Zealand to
achieve a balance of what we assume to be Government’s policy objectives, namely:
1. Encourage the creation of a global policy regime that would help mitigate the risks of global
warming. Since New Zealand’s own emissions are within the margin of error of global
levels, this policy objective is primarily satisfied by actions that encourage the main
emitting nations to take action. The key question is what specific actions, promises and
threats by New Zealand would best contribute to inducing the desired global behaviour.
2. Ensure that New Zealand does not bear a disproportionate burden of global adjustment.
This relates to emission reduction targets for New Zealand, other negotiated rules and
domestic policy options. We assume that New Zealand’s interest is best served by doing
the minimum to achieve the first objective.
3. Protect New Zealand from the risk of treaty failure. Irreversible changes should only be
made against secure expectations of action by the rest of the world. As long as uncertainty
remains about the actions of other global players, New Zealand should aim to keep its
options open.
4. The cost of the global regime to reduce the rate of climate change must not exceed the cost
of mitigating the consequences of such climate change.
The main reason why early ratification is not the preferred option is that the formulation of
global climate change policies is not a one-off step. Rather, these policies remain uncertain and
the environment is dynamic. Hence, it is in New Zealand’s interests to retain as much leverage
as possible over the future development of global policies. An unconditional commitment now
reduces such leverage, making it less, rather than more, likely that a viable global regime will
emerge. 1
We recommend that New Zealand would be more likely to achieve an overall balance of the
objectives set out above if our ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was conditional on:
• Ratification and a credible commitment to implementation by those key countries by whom
a decision not to participate in the first commitment period would sharply deepen the costs
of that period for New Zealand. This would be particularly true of Australia and Japan.
• Successful completion of negotiations for the second commitment period, which would
ensure that the main emitting developing countries, such as China and India, accept non-
trivial binding targets from 2012. The negotiations would also need to ensure that the
former communist countries accept binding targets once their ‘hot air’ is depleted, and that
New Zealand is not disadvantaged by the targets negotiated for the remaining Annex I
countries.
1 Because New Zealand’s influence on the world economy and environment is relatively small , i t is
assumed that New Zealand has some, but minimal influence over the behaviour of other countries. Thisapplies equally to the analysis of moral persuasion and of negotiated positions.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation ii
• Ratification should also be predicated on the development of viable domestic policies,
which would carry New Zealand over the first commitment period without undue damage.
We arrive at this conclusion in part through the analysis of the likely changes in New Zealand’s
competitiveness during the first commitment period – the time when our main competitors face
no binding targets.
Impact on New Zealand
The official view is that, whilst the costs of climate change are potentially large because much
of our economy is weather-dependent, overall the economic costs to New Zealand of
implementing the Kyoto Protocol are likely to be small and, with an ability to claim credits from
forestry, might actually produce a net benefit to New Zealand. (New Zealand climate change
programme. 2001. p17)
The precise impact will depend very much on the policy implemented domestically. But there
are a number of reasons why the burden on New Zealand looks to be higher than expected, and
disproportionately high compared to other Annex I countries:
• Energy is a key input in New Zealand, and the possibilities to switch to lower emission
energy sources or other inputs at reasonable cost are limited. Increasing the cost of
emissions will reduce our economic growth prospects more than other, less energy
intensive economies. This will do little for our aim to climb up the OECD’s GDP per capita
rankings.
• The choice of 1990 as a benchmark is particularly disadvantageous to New Zealand. In
contrast to all other Annex I countries, New Zealand’s energy intensity has been increasing
due to the significant structural changes of the late 1980s. Over the period 1990-1998
emissions (including land use change and forestry) had risen by about 5%, compared to a
0% target for 2008-2012.
• Our industries are particularly vulnerable to competition from countries outside the
Protocol. More so than other Annex I countries, our primary commodity-based exports
tend to compete with those from non-Annex I countries. A rise in production costs due to
Kyoto will threaten our competitiveness.
• Our geography puts us at a disadvantage. Apart from high transport emissions per unit of
GDP, energy intensive industries (such as wood processing) are at risk of relocation to the
non-Annex countries en-route to our main markets. This will particularly impact on the
low-skilled labour predominant in these sectors.
• Forest sinks offer only limited potential to offset the abatement costs.
Prospects of an effective global policy
We also consider current international trends with respect to climate change policy.
Developing countries are exempt from emission targets during 2008-2012. The idea is that they
would take on binding targets after 2012. But they have few incentives to accept any
meaningful targets, as that would constrain economic development objectives, and the loss of
the competitive advantage gained over Annex I countries during the first period.
Annex I countries are already starting to question the wisdom of a policy that puts the
competitiveness of their economies at risk, without achieving environmental objectives. The US
was first out of the starting blocks. That sentiment will be fuelled by a rising awareness that –
given the lack of progress to date – most Annex I countries are unlikely to be able to meet their
Kyoto targets at reasonable cost.
As 2008 closes in, and the costs of meeting emissions targets become real, domestic debates on
who should pay what will heat up. The fuel price protests throughout Europe in 2000 gave a
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation iii
taste of the level of public tolerance for increased taxes now in return for long-term
environmental benefits. The subsequent retreat on eco-taxes in key EU countries illustrates the
lack of appetite to incur the political costs. It seems likely others will follow the US, either
explicitly by quitting Kyoto, or, more likely, implicitly by watering down the domestic impact
through exemptions to industries most exposed to international competition, and missing and
then re-negotiating down the targets.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation iv
CONTENTS
1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1
2. Emissions and energy use in NZ ............................................................ 3
2.1 Sources of greenhouse gasses ......................................................................................3
2.2 Energy and the economy ...............................................................................................4
2.2.1 Transport...............................................................................................................7
2.2.2 Electricity generation .............................................................................................9
2.3 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................9
3. Threats to NZ trade performance.......................................................... 10
3.1 The trade in energy-intensive goods ............................................................................10
3.2 Threats to New Zealand's exports ................................................................................11
3.2.1 Dairy products .....................................................................................................13
3.2.2 Cattle meat products............................................................................................14
3.2.3 Chemicals ...........................................................................................................15
3.2.4 Paper products ....................................................................................................17
3.2.5 Wool products .....................................................................................................18
3.2.6 Machinery products .............................................................................................19
3.2.7 Non-ferrous metals products................................................................................20
3.2.8 Wood products ....................................................................................................21
3.3 Competition within New Zealand..................................................................................22
3.4 Labour market .............................................................................................................22
3.5 Conclusion...................................................................................................................23
4. A fair share for New Zealand?............................................................... 24
4.1 The additional burden of using 1990 as benchmark year..............................................24
4.2 Land use change and forestry......................................................................................26
4.3 Conclusion...................................................................................................................27
5. A comparison with Australia ................................................................. 28
5.1 Australian emissions profile .........................................................................................28
5.1.1 Substitution to lower emission energy sources .....................................................29
5.2 Impact of Kyoto on Australia’s economy.......................................................................29
5.2.1 Energy exports ....................................................................................................30
5.3 Australian prospects in meeting its Kyoto emission target.............................................30
5.4 Conclusion...................................................................................................................31
6. Kyoto and the developing countries .................................................... 32
6.1 The impact of phased negotiations...............................................................................32
6.2 What incentives to join? ...............................................................................................34
6.3 Conclusion...................................................................................................................36
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation v
7. Progress by the Annex I Countries....................................................... 37
7.1 Emission trends and the Kyoto gap..............................................................................37
7.2 The evolution of climate policies...................................................................................39
7.2.1 European Union...................................................................................................40
7.2.2 Japan, US, Canada, and Australia .......................................................................40
7.2.3 Transitional economies........................................................................................43
7.3 Conclusion...................................................................................................................43
8. What are our options? ........................................................................... 44
8.1 Early ratification ...........................................................................................................45
8.2 Domestic policies.........................................................................................................46
8.3 Conclusion...................................................................................................................46
9. References.............................................................................................. 47
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Emission tables ........................................................................ 49
FIGURES
Figure 1 Trends in New Zealand's emissions of GHGs................................................. 4
Figure 2 Contribution to total New Zealand emissions by sector................................... 4
Figure 3 Emissions as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product ................................... 5
Figure 4 Value of energy input per $ of GDP in NZ and the OECD............................... 6
Figure 5 Energy consumption by sector........................................................................ 7
Figure 6 Transport emissions per unit of GDP .............................................................. 8
Figure 7 Threats to New Zealand's exports: a schematic representation .................... 12
Figure 8 New Zealand's dairy exports by destination.................................................. 13
Figure 9 New Zealand's meat product exports by destination ..................................... 14
Figure 10 Share of New Zealand's chemicals products exports by destination ........... 15
Figure 11 Share of New Zealand's paper products exports by destination.................. 17
Figure 12 Share of New Zealand's wool exports by destination .................................. 18
Figure 13 Share of New Zealand's machinery exports by destination ......................... 19
Figure 14 Share of New Zealand's non-ferrous metals exports by destination............ 20
Figure 15 Share of New Zealand's wood exports by destination................................. 21
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation vi
Figure 16 NZ capacity utilisation................................................................................. 25
Figure 17 Australian exports 1994 .............................................................................. 30
Figure 18 Historic and projected CO2 emissions......................................................... 33
Figure 19 CO2 emissions in key Annex I regions: 1980-99 ......................................... 38
Figure 20 CO2 emissions by the top 6 European emitters: 1980-1999........................ 38
Figure 21 Emissions per $1000 GDP.......................................................................... 41
Figure 22 Canadian Exports ....................................................................................... 42
TABLES
Table 1 New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions ...................................................... 3
Table 2 Sector contributions to GDP – key Annex I countries....................................... 5
Table 3 Energy related CO2 equivalent fossil fuel emissions 1999................................ 6
Table 4 New Zealand's export markets by distance...................................................... 8
Table 5 Trade in energy intensive products for OECD regions (1994) ........................ 10
Table 6 Export profile: selected Annex One countries................................................. 11
Table 7 Competitors to New Zealand's dairy exports .................................................. 13
Table 8 Competitors to New Zealand's meat products exports ................................... 15
Table 9 Competitors to New Zealand's chemicals exports .......................................... 16
Table 10 Competitors to New Zealand's paper products exports ................................ 17
Table 11 Competitors to New Zealand's wool exports ................................................ 18
Table 12 Competitors to New Zealand's machinery exports ....................................... 19
Table 13 Competitors to New Zealand's non-ferrous metals exports .......................... 20
Table 14 Competitors to New Zealand's wood exports ............................................... 21
Table 15 Manufacturing employment.......................................................................... 23
Table 16 Emission trends summary............................................................................ 26
Table 17 Australian CO2 emissions and removals ...................................................... 29
Table 18 Top ten sources of CO2 emissions............................................................... 33
Table 19 Emissions and targets for Annex I countries ................................................ 39
Table 20 Comparison of Annex I emissions................................................................ 49
Table 21 Emissions by region 1990-2020................................................................... 50
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 1
1. INTRODUCTION
The New Zealand Government intends to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. This international
agreement seeks to manage the impact of human activity induced global warming by first
limiting, and eventually reducing, global emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG).
The response to climate change is one of the most complex risk management issues facing
New Zealand and the world. Nothing is straightforward. The effects of climate change are
uncertain:
• The potential costs and benefits are spread unevenly across the globe and across economic
sectors.
• There is also considerable uncertainty about the degree to which viable changes in
greenhouse gas emissions associated with human activities will alter the direction of
climate change.
• The effects of the Kyoto Protocol on global emission levels are themselves uncertain. It is
generally recognised that the implementation of the first commitment period (2008-2012) by
developed countries will do very little to change the trend in greenhouse gas emission
growth. Rather, the initial implementation of the Protocol is intended to generate a political
and economic environment in which the developing nations will be willing to sign up to an
emission reduction regime.
• There is clearly a risk that the actions by Annex I1 countries will not generate the desired
buy-in from the rest of the world.
• There is also a significant risk that some Annex I countries will not fulfil their obligations,
while many former communist countries may withdraw from the agreement once they no
longer enjoy the benefits of ‘hot air’.2
The key problem from New Zealand’s national interest perspective is that the economic costs of
implementing the Protocol are highly concentrated on the first commitment period. This is
because during this period – if New Zealand were to ratify – we would be imposing on
ourselves significant economic costs which would not be faced by our main competitors – both
in the imports and exports markets. New Zealand’s relative position in world markets would
deteriorate until all countries around the world face the same marginal cost of greenhouse gas
emissions. This will not happen until the second commitment period at the earliest.
There are no easy answers to how New Zealand should best manage these risks. If
New Zealand uses policy instruments during the first commitment period which affect our
competitiveness, New Zealand would be incurring significant immediate economic costs. In
return, it will be buying some improvement in the probability that human generated
greenhouse gas emissions will eventually be contained, which will increase the probability that
the effects of climate change will be mitigated, which may reduce the future costs on
New Zealand and the rest of the world of dealing with the negative effects of climate change. It
1 Annex I to the Kyoto Protocol lists the countries which, by ratifying, accept the responsibility for
limiting greenhouse gas emissions. This includes most industrialised countries, South Korea, Singapore,
Israel and Taiwan, and the European former communist countries ( i .e . i t does not include the Asianrepublics of the former Soviet Union).
2 ‘Hot air’ is the term used to describe actual reductions in emissions already achieved by these countries
due to the collapse of heavy industry in the post-Soviet period. Hot air makes these countries netcreditors during the first commitment period. This gives them a strong incentive to participate during
2008-2012 as they can sell their excess credits. In subsequent periods, these countries would no longerenjoy such benefits, and may not be willing to constrain their economic growth.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 2
is very difficult to assess any of these probabilities. There is a non-trivial risk that New Zealand
may incur the immediate costs under the Protocol, and then still be faced with the cost of
dealing with the effects of ongoing climate change.
There may also be some risks to New Zealand from not ratifying the Protocol. If the Kyoto-type
regime does become a global standard eventually, there may be some benefits from being an
early adopter. There may also be some risk that other developed countries which ratify the
Protocol could eventually seek to impose some trade restrictions on countries that are outside
the regime.
Hence, the key issues facing New Zealand’s policy-makers are:
• Do the expected benefits, given their magnitudes and probabilities, justify the expected
costs, particularly of the first commitment period?
• How do the benefits and costs of immediate ratification compare to the benefits and costs of
delayed action, such as ratifying at the same time as our major competitors?
• What are the tools available to New Zealand to manage various risks?
Against this background, this report investigates:
• The structural and sectoral differences between New Zealand and other developed
economies (in particular, and in most detail, Europe and Australia) to understand the
differential impacts.
• The likely development of global climate policy.
• The policy options open to New Zealand in the context of an evolving climate policy stance
in Europe, Australia, Canada and the US.
We conclude by developing a recommended policy approach to manage various complex risks
faced by New Zealand.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 3
2. EMISSIONS AND ENERGY USE IN NZ
This section of the report compares the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand
and in other Annex I countries. The differences are important, because they lead to different
burdens of adjustment and impose different dynamic constraints on economic growth.
2.1 Sources of greenhouse gasses
In New Zealand, carbon dioxide from energy and methane from agriculture are the two main
sources of greenhouse gas emissions (Table 1). This mix is unusual among OECD countries,
where carbon dioxide predominates. This reflects the relative importance of the agricultural
sector to the New Zealand economy.
Table 1 New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissionsCO2 equivalent (Gg)1
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Carbondioxide
25,399 25,882 27,763 27,136 27,199 27,206 28,223 30,210 28,824 30,523
Methane 35,211 34,478 33,857 33,896 34,105 34,144 34,103 33,494 33,558 33,594
Nitrous oxide 11,849 11,725 11,738 11,887 12,048 12,097 12,041 12,062 12,231 12,397
Other3 605 653 646 247 300 310 414 384 397 318
Total 73,064 72,737 74,004 73,166 73,651 73,757 74,782 76,151 75,010 76,831Source: Ministry for the Environment (2001).
Notes: 1. 1 Gg ( Gigagram) equals 1 kiloton
The data refers to gross emissions
Other refers to the sum of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride.
In 1999, carbon dioxide accounted for around 39% of gross emissions. This share has been
growing since 1990, reflecting growth in the transport and energy generation industries in
particular, as well as the manufacturing & construction industries. Methane accounts for
around 44% of New Zealand's gross greenhouse gas emissions, down from 48% in 1990, mainly
due to changes in the levels and mix of livestock (see Figure 1). Nitrous oxide represents
around 16% of total GHG emissions.
By contrast, CO2 is the main greenhouse gas in the rest of the developed world, primarily from
fossil fuel combustion. In 1996, 84% of US emissions came from fossil fuel combustion, while
methane accounted for 10% (EIA 2000).
These compositional differences are significant because at present there are no economically or
technologically viable means of reducing methane emissions from ruminant animals. Hence,
any emission constraints in this area would more likely be associated with output declines.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 4
Figure 1 Trends in New Zealand's emissions of GHGsPercent of total gross emissions
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Carbon DioxideMethaneNitrous OxideOther
Source: Ministry for the Environment (2001).
When expressed by economic sector, emissions from agriculture accounted for 55% of gross
emissions in 1998, and emissions from fuel combustion and industrial processes 41% (Ministry
of Economic Development 2000). The vast majority of New Zealand's methane emissions come
from pastoral agriculture, with 88% stemming from ruminants. Of this ruminant methane, 51%
was from sheep, 23% from beef cattle and 23% from dairy cattle (Joblin, 2001). These
proportions have changed over the 1990s, with sheep now accounting for relatively less of the
methane emissions, and dairy cattle more. This reflects the continued conversion of sheep
farms into dairy farms. Non-agricultural sources of methane in New Zealand include landfills
and energy.
Figure 2 Contribution to total New Zealand emissions by sectorMt CO2 equivalent
24.1
2.39
42.83
-21.43
3.14
27.53
2.74
41.18
-20.76
2.79
-30.00
-20.00
-10.00
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
All energy Industrial Processes Agriculture Land Use Changeand Forestry
Waste
19901998
Source: Ministry of Economic Development 2000
2.2 Energy and the economy
New Zealand is the only OECD country where energy-related greenhouse gas emissions
relative to GDP have increased since 1980. While there has been some decline from the peak in
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 5
1991, the emissions ratio has been relatively stable since the mid-1990s. This appears to be a
characteristic of commodity dependent economies, such as New Zealand, Canada and
Australia, compared to ongoing declines in other industrial countries. Japan is unusual in this
regard.
Figure 3 Emissions as a proportion of Gross Domestic ProductMillion metric tons CO2 equivalents per US$1000 GDP
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Canada United States Australia Japan
New Zealand United Kingdom Germany
Source: Energy Information Administration 2001
Table 2 shows that, as in many other OECD countries, the service sector has become more
important. But compared to other OECD countries:
• The share of the more energy intensive industries, such as those in the primary sector, has
in fact increased over time, although it has fallen back since the mid-1990s due to the
decline of the petrochemicals sector. The contribution of agriculture to New Zealand GDP
is 2-6 times larger than in other Annex I countries.
• The contribution of services to New Zealand's GDP increased by 2.0% during the 1989 -
1999 period. Other Annex I countries increased their share of GDP due to services by up to
8.5%.
• The size of the service sector in New Zealand is smaller relative to others once the energy
intensive transport industry is excluded. The service sector (excluding transport industries)
in the US and Australia, for example, accounted for about 65% of total GDP in 2000,
compared to less than 50% in New Zealand. Growth in the relative share of the service
sector came at the expense of light manufacturing.
Table 2 Sector contributions to GDP – key Annex I countries
Country Agriculture Industry (total) Services
1989 1999 1989 1999 1989 1999New Zealand 8.2 7.8 29.4 27.7 62.5 64.5
Australia 4.6 3.3 29.4 26.4 66.0 70.4
Japan 2.6 1.7 40.9 36.1 56.5 62.2
United States 2.0 1.7 29.1 26.1 69.0 72.2
Canada 2.9 2.5 34.2 32.8 62.9 64.7
France 3.9 3.0 30.2 25.0 65.9 72.0
Germany 1.9 1.2 38.9 31.1 59.7 67.7
United Kingdom 2.0 1.2 36.3 28.6 61.8 70.3
Source: OECD 2001
Another way of illustrating the same point is that, compared to the rest of the OECD,
New Zealand had the 2nd highest value of energy inputs per dollar of GDP in 1998.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 6
Figure 4 Value of energy input per $ of GDP in NZ and the OECD
Dollar of energy input per $ of GDP in OECD and European countries (NZ$, 1998)
0.00
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
0.09
Japan EuropeanUnion
OECDPacific
OECDEurope
UK OECD Australia OECD NorthAmerica
US NZ Canada
Source: NZIER
Using more energy per dollar of output than other countries does not mean energy is used
inefficiently. Rather, it reflects the availability of energy inputs relative to other inputs. It also
reflects the overall comparative advantage: New Zealand is relatively good at producing
commodities that are energy intensive, in particular dairy and meat, forestry and wood
products, petrochemicals and aluminium.
A closer look at New Zealand’s CO2 emissions from energy consumption (fuel combustion)
shows that transport accounts for 42% of emissions in 1999, thermal electricity generation 20%,
and the manufacturing industry 21%.3 In 1999 diesel, petrol and other liquid fuels accounted for
51% of emissions; gas 35.5%, and coal 11.1% (MED 2000). Table 3 provides an international
perspective on these 1999 data.
Table 3 Energy related CO2 equivalent fossil fuel emissions 1999
Emission source NZ 1 Industrialised World 2 US 2 Australia 3
Oil 51% 49% 42% 30.1
Gas 35% 20% 22% 13.3
Coal 11% 30% 36% 56.6
Source: MED 2000 (1), Energy Information Administration (2), Australian Greenhouse Office (3)
In terms of emissions, the thermal electricity generation and the transport sector have also been
the fastest growing over the last decade (up by 4.9% and 3.2% respectively), in line with
increased energy consumption. This is not surprising. Since New Zealand was an early
adopter of large-scale hydro generation, thermal generation represents the main marginal
source of energy. Transport sector growth has been largely driven by the rapid growth of
commodity sectors and tourism, as well as the number of cars on the road.
The above differences between New Zealand and other Annex I countries are significant in
terms of the relative costs of containing emissions:
• As the only agricultural economy among the Annex I countries, New Zealand will be
largely on its own in having to develop technologies for containing agricultural greenhouse
gas emissions during the first commitment period. This is a relatively heavy burden for a
3 In 2000, transport accounted for 45% of emissions, electricity generation 18.2%, and the manufacturing
industry 23.1%.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 7
small country. Other countries, which share common emission problems, will be able to
spread the costs and risks of research.
• The high share of transport in New Zealand’s energy emissions makes economic incentives
relatively less effective in New Zealand. Fuel demand in transport is relatively insensitive
to price. Hence, New Zealand will find it relatively difficult to align its policy instruments
with other developed countries. This again imposes an additional adjustment burden on a
small country.
• New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are largely produced by the sectors which are the
key drivers of this economy. By contrast, in most other Annex I countries, the bulk of
emissions comes from mature, low growth sectors. Hence, the dynamic effects of imposing
emission constraints are likely to differ.
• Unlike most other Annex I countries, the marginal sources of energy in New Zealand are
more greenhouse gas emission intensive than the existing sources. In other words, average
emissions will keep rising as we add more gas and then coal-fired electricity generation. By
contrast, most other Annex I countries, at the margin, are shifting from coal to gas, reducing
their average emission intensity. This is being done for economic, rather than
environmental, reasons.
2.2.1 Transport
Data from the US Energy Information Administration allows an international comparison of
how energy consumption is distributed by sector. The main observation is the large share of
energy consumed in New Zealand’s transport sector, compared to other OECD countries.
Figure 5 Energy consumption by sectorShare of total energy consumption 1998
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
New Zealand Australia Canada United States Japan France Germany UnitedKingdom
Transportation Residential Industrial and commercial
Source: Source: EIA Country Briefs, Ministry of Commerce for New Zealand
Transport-related greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP closely follow this pattern: the
OECD (1999) found that for New Zealand these were amongst the highest in the OECD (see
Figure 6).
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 8
Figure 6 Transport emissions per unit of GDP1996 data. Tonnes of carbon dioxide per $US million.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Luxe
mbo
urg
Can
ada
USA
N. Z
eala
nd
Aus
tral
ia
Mex
ico
Icel
and
Gre
ece
Kor
ea
Spai
n
UK
Ger
man
y
Fran
ce
Japa
n
OECD average
Source: OECD (1999)
Notes: OECD GDP data at 1991 prices and purchasing power parities
New Zealand's economic structure and geography generates a greater than average dependence
on road transport. The key export industries of dairy, meat products and wood all involve
extensive transportation, from farms and forestry plantations spread across New Zealand to
processing plants to international gateways4 and markets. This contributes to our greater
emission intensity per unit of GDP.
The relatively small population spread out over a relatively large land mass also contributes to
our high reliance on road transport. In all, New Zealanders travel 503 vehicle kms for each $US
1000 of GDP. This is similar to the Australians and Americans, but compares to an average of
408 in the EU-15 countries (OECD 1999). Since New Zealand’s per capita GDP is substantially
lower than either in the US or in Australia, this highlights our relatively high mobility needs.
The problem with transport related emissions is that there are currently few feasible options to
reduce these, without significant changes to the structure of the economy, car and truck use, or
fuel conversion. In other words, the marginal abatement costs would be high in this sector.
Table 4 New Zealand's export markets by distanceDistance, km No of countries % of total NZ exports
d<7,000 2 23.7
7,000<d<11,000 18 35.3
11,000<d<13,000 20 3.2
13,000<d<15,000 18 18.4
15,000<d<17,000 14 1.4
17,000<d<20,000 27 17.9
Source: NZIER 2001
4 Most external trade is carried by sea: almost 85% of New Zealand exports by value, and over 99% by
volume (Statistics New Zealand). However, initially international transport itself will not be subject tothe Kyoto Protocol restrictions.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 9
2.2.2 Electricity generation
The bulk of New Zealand’s electricity generation (about 65% in 1998) comes from hydro-plant.
While hydro-generation has environmental impacts, particularly on establishment, it does not
emit greenhouse gases in contrast to coal, gas, and to a lesser extent geothermal generation. In
1998, coal accounted for about 5% of capacity, and gas for 20%. The remaining capacity comes
from geothermal and wind. Coal is currently used to meet peak demand, but the Ministry of
Economic Development predicts that coal will provide a growing share of marginal base-load
capacity.
MED analysis (2000) shows that demand for electricity has grown largely in line with GDP over
the last 30 years; to fuel future economic growth, 2200 MW new capacity is being
commissioned. As New Zealand has already developed a major hydro capacity, only a limited
amount (18%) of that new capacity will come from hydro, with over 30% to come from coal
(other main sources are 13.5% from gas and 12% from geothermal generation). As a result,
coal’s share is estimated to grow to 14% in 2020, while the shares of gas and hydro generation
drop to 15% and 52% respectively.
As a consequence, the business-as-usual scenario is that carbon intensity of electricity and
overall energy consumption in New Zealand will grow, notwithstanding any abatement
technologies or fuel efficiency improvements. Combined with a forecast growth in electricity
demand, emissions from this sector are set to grow.
This contrasts sharply with the situation in Europe and Australia. Europe has traditionally
relied on coal for much of its base-load capacity. Since the early 1990s, most European countries
have been switching to gas as a result of electricity market and coal subsidy reforms. This
development has been underpinned by access to substantial gas reserves in the North Sea, and
an increasing reliance on gas delivered from Russia. In other words, in Europe the switch from
more emission intensive electricity generation to less emission intensive practices has been
occurring for economic reasons, with incidental environmental benefits. In contrast,
New Zealand is, in effect, being penalised for its early adoption of hydro-power generation,
with only limited development potential left under the existing non-emitting technologies.
MED estimates that a carbon charge to reduce emissions by 13% would raise electricity prices
by 12-13%, while coal prices would increase by 34%.
2.3 Conclusion
The above international comparisons of the sources of emission indicate that the costs for
New Zealand of adjusting to the Kyoto Protocol emission restrictions are likely to be higher
than for most other countries likely to participate in the first commitment period. In fact,
New Zealand’s economic structure, its per capita GDP and the structure of its emissions is more
in line with many of the ‘developing’ countries, which are not part of Annex I. This creates
significant risks for New Zealand in being an early adopter of the emission reduction targets.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 10
3. THREATS TO NZ TRADE PERFORMANCE
In principle, all emission-intensive industries in Annex I countries are vulnerable to competition
from the developing world. But some Annex I economies are more exposed than others. We
analyse the competition faced in key New Zealand export markets. In particular we check:
• The relative importance of trade in emission-intensive commodities. What proportion of
our external trade is in emission-intensive goods, compared to other Annex I countries?
• Competition in our main export markets. Do New Zealand exports compete mainly with
other Annex I countries or with developing countries?
We will also look at exposure of domestic producers who compete with imports from
developing countries, and the potential of industries shifting part of their production process to
developing countries.
3.1 The trade in energy-intensive goods
Table 5 shows that the Pacific and North American regions are more exposed to energy-
intensive trade with non-Annex 1 countries than Europe. In turn, the Pacific region is more
exposed than North America (Baron et al. 1997).
Table 5 Trade in energy-intensive products for OECD regions (1994)
OECD Region Europe NorthAmerica
Pacific
Exports of energy-intensive products to non-Annex 1 countriesover total exports
3.2% 4.9% 7.5%
Imports of energy-intensive products from non-Annex 1 countriesover total imports
1.0% 1.8% 3.7%
Share of exports (imports) of energy-intensive products to (from)Annex I countries
80.7%
(88.9%)
66.6%
(79.1%)
33.3%
(67.2%)
Net exports of energy-intensive products to non-Annex Icountries (Billion)
US $39.8 US $16.1 US $21.3
Net exports of energy-intensive products to other regions (Billion) US $53.0 US $2.7 US $8.0
Contribution of trade to GDP (Imports+Exports)/2*GDP 27.3% 13.4% 9.8%
Notes: (1) Energy-intensive goods are defined as: iron and steel, non ferrous metals, paper and pulp, chemical products
Source: Baron et al. 1997 p27
New Zealand is particularly exposed, because of its different export profile to those of other
major Annex I nations. Table 6 ranks the ten highest export earning industries in New Zealand,
Australia and other key Annex I countries. It shows that:
• After the trade and transport grouping,5 New Zealand's highest export earner is the dairy
products manufacturing sector. This sector is both energy and methane intensive. It does
not appear in the top ten export earners for the other Annex I countries in the table.
• Exports of cattle meat6 products are also vital to New Zealand's export receipts. But its
competitiveness is at risk from rising costs of cattle methane and transport emissions. This
is also a major export earner for Australia.
5 Trade and transport includes tourism (hotels and restaurants), retail trade and air, water and land
transport.
6 Cattle meat includes beef, sheep, goat and horse meat.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 11
• Other emission-intensive export sectors that are prominent in New Zealand are wool, paper
products, and manufactured wood products, which are less significant for other Annex I
nations.
• The low emission exports of machinery, vehicles, financial and business services are far
more important to the other Annex I countries.
Table 6 Export profile: selected Annex 1 countriesTen highest export earning sectors, 1995
NZ Australia United States Canada UnitedKingdom
Germany Japan
1 Trade andtransport
Trade andtransport
Machinery Vehicles Machinery Machinery Machinery
2 Dairy products Coal Financial andbusinessservices
Machinery Chemicals Vehicles Vehicles
3 Cattle meatproducts
Minerals Trade andtransport
Paper products Trade andtransport
Chemicals Electronicequipment
4 Chemicals Non-ferrousmetals
Chemicals Chemicals Electronicequipment
Trade andtransport
Trade andtransport
5 Other food Chemicals Electronicequipment
Wood products Vehicles Publicadministration
Chemicals
6 Paper products Publicadministration
Vehicles Trade andtransport
Financial andbusinessservices
Electronicequipment
Ferrous metals
7 Wool Machinery Transportequipment
Electronicequipment
Publicadministration
Ferrous metals Othermanufacturing
8 Machinery Cattle meatproducts
Publicadministration
Non-ferrousmetals
Oil Paper products Financial andbusinessservices
9 Non-ferrousmetals
Wool Paper products Oil Ferrous metals Metal products Transportequipment
10 Wood products Financial andbusinessservices
Othermanufacturing
Financial andbusinessservices
Paper products Textiles Textiles
Source: GTAP version 4 database
3.2 Threats to New Zealand's exports
An increase in the cost of producing emission/energy intensive commodities and bringing
them to export markets will affect the competitiveness of New Zealand exports.
New Zealand export competitiveness is affected in two areas:
• Compared to other Annex I countries. Greater emission-intensity – due to greater
transport costs and greater reliance on energy-intensive processes to get our key export
commodities ready for export – would make New Zealand commodities more expensive
compared to the same goods from other Annex I countries. This will affect New Zealand’s
competitiveness both in Annex I and in developing countries.
• Compared to non-Annex I countries. A carbon charge or similar will make production of a
commodity in New Zealand more expensive relative to production in a non-Annex I
country. This will make imports of these commodities from non-Annex I countries rather
than NZ more attractive to both Annex I and non-Annex I countries.
An increase in relative production costs is equivalent in its effect to a price decline. In essence,
New Zealand’s imposition on itself of the Kyoto Protocol restrictions during the first
commitment period is equivalent to us suffering a negative world price shock. Our terms of
trade (that is, the ratio of export to import prices) worsen. This is important, since – as will be
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 12
explained in the concluding section – the dynamics of the terms of trade is a critical determinant
of New Zealand’s economic performance.
Below, we analyse these competitive threats to New Zealand's key commodity exports, as listed
in Table 6. We consider:
1. Where is each commodity exported to?
2. Who else exports these commodities to each destination?
Let us consider the example of dairy products to explain how we sought to answer these
questions (Figure 7). We first looked at which countries New Zealand exports dairy products
to. Then, for each of the top 10 destination countries, we looked at who else exports dairy
products into that country. Any non-Annex 1 countries or the US (which does not intend to
ratify the Kyoto Protocol) among the top 10 importers are then identified as threats to our dairy
export market. If any other Annex I countries choose not to ratify, they will need to be added to
the list.
It is likely that if a country figures among the top 10 sources of imports, its producers would
tend to have the necessary production capacity and market presence to expand market share
relatively quickly. In addition, new market entrants may also pose risks.
Figure 7 Threats to New Zealand's exports: a schematic representation
Other sources of dairyimports for New Zealand's
export destinations
THREAT
THREAT
THREAT
NewZealand
Dairyproducts
Exportdestinations
A1
A1
A1
A1
A1
A1
NA1
NA1
NA1
Source: NZIER
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 13
3.2.1 Dairy products
a) Destinations for New Zealand's dairy exports
New Zealand's dairy exports are primarily sent to the United Kingdom, Japan, Malaysia and
the former Soviet Union (FSU). The top 10 destinations in the chart below account for around
67% of New Zealand's dairy exports.
Figure 8 New Zealand's dairy exports by destinationPercent of total exports
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
Japa
n
Mal
aysi
a
Form
er S
ovie
tU
nion
Res
t of
the
Mid
dle
East
Tai
wan
Aus
tral
ia
Phili
ppin
es
Cen
tral
Am
eric
aan
d C
artib
bean
Res
t of
Nor
thA
fric
a
Source: GTAP version 4 database
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's dairy exports
Table 7 Competitors to New Zealand's dairy exports
Source of imports Export destinationUK Japan Malaysia FSU Middle
EastTaiwan Australia Philippin
esCentralAmerica
NorthAfrica
1 REU Australia NewZealand
Germany REU Australia NewZealand
Australia REU REU
2 NewZealand
NewZealand
Australia REU Denmark REU REU REU NewZealand
UnitedStates
3 Germany REU REU NewZealand
NewZealand
NewZealand
Denmark NewZealand
UK NewZealand
4 Denmark UnitedStates
Germany UnitedStates
Australia CEA EFT UnitedStates
Denmark Germany
5 Canada Denmark UnitedStates
CEA Germany UnitedStates
Germany Germany USA Canada
6 EFT FSU UK Finland UK Denmark UnitedStates
UK CentralAmerica
Denmark
7 Australia UK CEA Denmark CEA FSU CEA Singapore Germany CEA
8 UnitedStates
Germany Denmark Sweden UnitedStates
Argentina UK CEA Canada Australia
9 Sweden EFT Canada Canada Finland MiddleEast
Canada Argentina Australia Finland
10 FSU Canada Finland EFT Canada SouthAfrica
Sweden India EFT CentralAmerica
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of Europe. I, N, S = Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT = Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein.
Source: GTAP version 4 database
As the preceding chart shows, New Zealand's dairy exporters compete mainly with Annex I
countries in their main markets. The direct threat appears to come from the US, which is only
now beginning to expand as a dairy exporter, and from the growing dairy industries in Latin
America.
This threat is significant, particularly in relation to future growth. Moreover, prices in many
markets are increasingly being set at the margin by new competitors.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 14
The key risk to New Zealand dairy industry, however, is that European countries will protect
their farmers from the effects of the Kyoto Protocol. International dairy prices are heavily
influenced by the European subsidy levels. These subsidies are politically motivated, and are
determined by the desire to provide an acceptable level of income to the incumbent farmer
population in the European Union. It is highly unlikely that these political imperatives will be
altered by the Kyoto Protocol. While the WTO rules would constrain overt new subsidies to
compensate for production cost increases, it is very likely that other measures will be found to
insulate European dairy producers from the effects of Kyoto polices. Since agriculture is a
marginal activity in Europe, such political settlements can be sustained by European economies.
3.2.2 Cattle meat products
This category includes products from sheep, bovine cattle, goats and horses.
a) Destinations for New Zealand's meat products exports
North America (beef) and the European Union (sheepmeat) are the main destinations for
New Zealand's meat products exports. In 2001 each market was worth approximately $1.5
billion. North Asia and the Middle East are other key export markets for meat products. The
countries in the chart account for around 85% of New Zealand's meat products exports.
Figure 9 New Zealand's meat product exports by destinationPercent of total
0
5
10
15
20
25
Uni
ted
Stat
es
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
Res
t of
Eur
opea
nU
nion
Japa
n
Can
ada
Ger
man
y
Kor
ea
Tai
wan
Res
t of
Mid
dle
East C
hina
Source: GTAP version 4 database
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's meat products exports
New Zealand product mainly competes with meat from Australia, the US and South American
beef producers (Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay), as well as from European producers in their
home markets.
Beef and lamb trade in the US and EU is subject to quotas. For example, New Zealand has a
230,000MT beef quota to the US, whereas Argentina and Uruguay each have a quota of
20,000MT. Similarly, New Zealand’s quota to the EU is many times greater than that of
Argentina and Australia. These quotas limit the competitive threat from other exporters to our
main destination markets. In this case, the increase in production costs from climate change
policies is more likely to be borne in the form of reduced profit margins rather than through
loss of market share.
Overall , New Zealand’s meat products exports appear highly vulnerable to the price distortions
during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 15
Table 8 Competitors to New Zealand's meat products exports
Source of imports Export destinationUnitedStates
UK REU Japan Canada Germany Korea Taiwan MiddleEast
China
1 Australia REU REU UnitedStates
UnitedStates
REU UnitedStates
Australia REU UnitedStates
2 NewZealand
NewZealand
UK Australia NewZealand
Argentina Australia UnitedStates
Australia NewZealand
3 Canada Brazil Germany NewZealand
Australia NewZealand
NewZealand
NewZealand
NewZealand
Australia
4 Argentina Argentina Denmark Canada Argentina Denmark Canada Canada India Canada
5 CentralAmerica
SouthernAfrica
Argentina Argentina Brazil UK RAP Japan Uruguay REU
6 Brazil Australia UnitedStates
China EFT Brazil Japan China Argentina RAP
7 Mexico Uruguay NewZealand
RAP REU CEA EFT RAP Germany Argentina
8 Uruguay SouthAfrica
Brazil Chile Uruguay Uruguay REU Chile UnitedStates
Taiwan
9 Japan Denmark Uruguay REU UK SouthAfrica
FSU REU Turkey Denmark
10 REU EFT CEA Thailand SouthernAfrica
Australia Taiwan Singapore UK Finland
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of European Union (incl. Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal). CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT = Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. RAP = Rest of Andean Pact (incl. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru).
Source: GTAP version 4 database
3.2.3 Chemicals
This category includes products such as fertilisers, industrial chemicals, resins, paints,
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tyres and tubes, and other rubber and plastic products not listed
elsewhere.
a) Destinations for New Zealand's chemicals exports
Australia is New Zealand's largest export market for chemicals, accounting for 28% of the total
market. Japan and the United States are the other two key markets. The countries in the chart
account for around 90% of New Zealand's chemicals exports.
Figure 10 Share of New Zealand's chemicals products exportsby destinationPercent of total
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Aus
tral
ia
Japa
n
Uni
ted
Stat
es
Kor
ea
Res
t of
Eur
opea
nU
nion Ger
man
y
Res
t of
Wor
ld
Tai
wan
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
Chi
na
Source: GTAP version 4 database
Note: The Rest of World aggregation contains 45 very small countries.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 16
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's chemicals exports
Whilst exports of chemicals are important to the New Zealand economy, the New Zealand
chemical industry is a relatively small player in all destination markets except Australia.
There are many threats to New Zealand's exporters of chemicals – the US, China, Singapore,
Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia, none of which have emission targets in the first commitment
period. The Middle East also poses a strong threat.
The largest single export in this category is 2 – 2.4 million tonnes of methanol per annum
manufactured by Methanex from natural gas. As this manufacture involves significant process
emissions, ongoing production in New Zealand may no longer be viable under climate change
policies. As the world demand for methanol is not likely to be affected by such changes, and
may increase in response to climate change policy - a significant amount of methanol is used to
produce an additive in gasoline to make it clean burning - emissions are likely to shift to other
countries. This could possibly include Australia, which has signalled that it is likely to
indemnify the process emissions from the gas industry.
Table 9 Competitors to New Zealand's chemicals exports
Source of imports Export destinationAustralia Japan United
StatesKorea REU Germany Rest of
WorldTaiwan UK China
1 UnitedStates
UnitedStates
Canada Japan REU REU REU Japan REU Taiwan
2 REU REU REU UnitedStates
Germany EFT CEA UnitedStates
Germany Japan
3 Japan Germany Japan REU UK UK Singapore REU UnitedStates
Korea
4 UK China Germany Germany UnitedStates
UnitedStates
Germany Germany EFT UnitedStates
5 Germany Korea UK China EFT CEA China Singapore Sweden FSU
6 NewZealand
EFT China MiddleEast
Japan Japan UK Korea Japan REU
7 China UK EFT UK FSU China Thailand China China Hong Kong
8 EFT Taiwan Mexico FSU CEA Sweden Japan Canada Denmark Germany
9 Singapore MiddleEast
MiddleEast
Malaysia MiddleEast
Denmark UnitedStates
UK FSU MiddleEast
10 Korea Sweden CentralAmerica
Indonesia Sweden FSU EFT EFT CEA Singapore
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of European Union (incl. Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal). CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT = Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. RAP = Rest of Andean Pact (incl. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru).
Source: GTAP version 4 database
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 17
3.2.4 Paper products
a) Destinations for New Zealand's paper products exports
Australia and Japan are the main Annex I destinations for New Zealand’s paper and pulp
exports. The rest of the exports are destined mainly for Asia, where there are competing paper
and pulp product manufacturers.
Figure 11 Share of New Zealand's paper products exports bydestinationPercent of total
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Aus
tral
ia
Japa
n
Indo
nesi
a
Tai
wan
Kor
ea
Hon
g K
ong
Mal
aysi
a
Res
t of
Wor
ld
Tha
iland
Chi
na
Source: GTAP version 4 database
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's paper products exports
The United States has a strong presence in most of New Zealand’s paper product export
markets. Major threats to New Zealand's exporters of paper and pulp products stem from
Asian non-Annex countries - in particular from Singapore, Korea, Indonesia and Taiwan.
Brazil, Chile, and South Africa also present significant risks.
Table 10 Competitors to New Zealand's paper products exports
Source of imports Export destinationAustralia Japan Indonesia Taiwan Korea Hong
KongMalaysia Rest of
WorldThailand China
1 UnitedStates
UnitedStates
UnitedStates
UnitedStates
UnitedStates
Japan Singapore REU UnitedStates
Taiwan
2 NewZealand
Canada Canada Japan Canada Korea Japan CEA Japan UnitedStates
3 UK Finland Singapore Canada Japan UnitedStates
UnitedStates
Germany Canada Hong Kong
4 Finland Brazil REU Germany Indonesia China Canada Singapore Singapore Korea
5 REU REU SouthAfrica
Chile Brazil Germany Indonesia UK REU Japan
6 Germany NewZealand
NewZealand
Indonesia Chile Taiwan Taiwan Brazil FSU Canada
7 Canada Chile Japan Sweden FSU REU REU UnitedStates
Sweden REU
8 Japan Germany Germany REU REU Canada Finland China SouthAfrica
Indonesia
9 Indonesia China Chile SouthAfrica
Finland Indonesia Germany Sweden Germany Finland
10 Singapore UK Brazil Hong Kong Germany UK UK NewZealand
Indonesia Germany
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of European Union (incl. Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal). CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT = Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. RAP = Rest of Andean Pact (incl. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru).
Source: GTAP version 4 database
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 18
3.2.5 Wool products
a) Destinations for New Zealand's wool exports
The largest market for New Zealand's exports of wool products is China, which receives around
31% of total wool exports. Other Asian markets include Japan and Hong Kong. Europe is also
a key destination for New Zealand wool exporters. The ten countries in the chart below
account for around 87% of total wool exports.
Figure 12 Share of New Zealand's wool exports by destinationPercent of total
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Chi
na
Res
t of
Eur
opea
nU
nion
Hon
g K
ong
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
Ger
man
y
Japa
n
Res
t of
Asi
a
Aus
tral
ia
Uni
ted
Stat
es
Indi
a
Source: GTAP version 4 database
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's wool exports
The key threats to New Zealand exporters of wool are China and Argentina. Other threats
include Uruguay, Brazil, South Africa, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Table 11 Competitors to New Zealand's wool exports
Source of imports Export destinationChina REU Hong
KongUK Germany Japan Rest of
AsiaAustralia 2 United
StatesIndia
1 Australia Australia NewZealand
Australia Australia Australia NewZealand
NewZealand
Australia Australia
2 NewZealand
NewZealand
Argentina NewZealand
NewZealand
China China UK NewZealand
China
3 FSU China Taiwan REU Argentina NewZealand
Australia Rest ofAsia
UK NewZealand
4 UK Argentina UK SouthAfrica
China REU Argentina Argentina Uruguay FSU
5 Argentina UK Rest ofWorld
Rest ofAsia
REU Brazil UK FSU REU
6 Rest ofWorld
REU SouthAfrica
MiddleEast
SouthAfrica
UK REU Canada UK
7 Uruguay Germany Malaysia Uruguay FSU Malaysia UnitedStates
Brazil Argentina
8 REU SouthAfrica
Singapore EFT UK Argentina Uruguay SouthAfrica
SouthAfrica
9 Chile FSU FSU Argentina Uruguay SouthAfrica
MiddleEast
REU Korea
10 Taiwan Brazil Australia FSU CEA Uruguay Rest ofWorld
Chile Uruguay
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of European Union (incl. Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal). CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT = Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. RAP = Rest of Andean Pact (incl. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru).
Only four countries register as providing exports of wool to Australia.
Source: GTAP version 4 database
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 19
3.2.6 Machinery products
This category includes machinery and equipment - engines, agricultural equipment, metal and
wood working equipment, office equipment, electrical appliances, etc.
a) Destinations for New Zealand's machinery exports
Australia accounts for 44% of this export market. The United States and the United Kingdom
are the other two key markets for New Zealand exporters of machinery.
Figure 13 Share of New Zealand's machinery exports bydestinationPercent of total
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Aus
tral
ia
Uni
ted
Stat
es
Res
t of
Wor
ld
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom REU
Mal
aysi
a
Hon
g K
ong
Japa
n
Sing
apor
e
Ger
man
y
Source: GTAP version 4 database
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's machinery exports
The main threats stem from the US and Asia, with China, Taiwan, Korea, and Malaysia all
competing strongly with New Zealand's exports. In the key export market – Australia – the US
is the key competitor, alongside the other Annex I countries. As the US will remain outside the
Protocol for the first period at least, our main competitor in our main market will gain in
relative terms.
Table 12 Competitors to New Zealand's machinery exports
Source of imports Export destinationAustralia United
StatesRest ofWorld
UK REU Malaysia HongKong
Japan Singapore Germany
1 UnitedStates
Japan REU REU REU Japan Japan UnitedStates
Japan REU
2 Japan Mexico Singapore Germany Germany Singapore Taiwan Korea UnitedStates
UnitedStates
3 Germany Canada Germany UnitedStates
UnitedStates
UnitedStates
UnitedStates
China Malaysia Japan
4 REU REU Japan Japan UK Korea Singapore Germany Korea EFT
5 UK Germany UK EFT Japan Taiwan Korea Taiwan Taiwan UK
6 China Korea CEA Malaysia EFT Germany REU REU REU CEA
7 Taiwan Taiwan UnitedStates
Sweden Sweden REU Malaysia Thailand Germany Korea
8 EFT UK China MiddleEast
China UK China Malaysia Thailand China
9 NewZealand
China Australia China CEA EFT UK EFT China Denmark
10 Singapore Malaysia Denmark Singapore Denmark China EFT Singapore UK Sweden
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of European Union (incl. Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal). CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT =Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. RAP = Rest of Andean Pact (incl. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru).
Source: GTAP version 4 database
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 20
3.2.7 Non-ferrous metals products
a) Destinations for New Zealand's non-ferrous metals exports
New Zealand exports non-ferrous metals (such as aluminium) mainly to Japan, Australia, and
South East Asia. Japan receives 54% of New Zealand's total exports of non-ferrous metals, and
the ten destinations in the chart account for 97% of this total.
Figure 14 Share of New Zealand's non-ferrous metals exports bydestinationPercent of total
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Japa
n
Kor
ea
Aus
tral
ia
Tha
iland
Indo
nesi
a
Uni
ted
Stat
es
Mal
aysi
a
Phili
ppin
es
Sing
apor
e
Tai
wan
Source: GTAP version 4 database
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's non-ferrous metals exports
Clearly, New Zealand’s survival in this market will critically depend on any exemptions or
protections granted to the exporters of non-ferrous metals. The costs of such protections will
impact elsewhere in the economy.
Table 13 Competitors to New Zealand's non-ferrous metals exports
Source of imports Export destination
Japan Korea Australia Thailand Indonesia UnitedStates
Malaysia Philippines
Singapore Taiwan
1 FSU Japan NewZealand
Australia Australia Canada Japan Australia Japan Japan
2 UnitedStates
Chile Germany Japan Chile FSU Australia Japan Indonesia Australia
3 Australia Australia REU SouthernAfrica
MiddleEast
SouthAfrica
Singapore Korea FSU UnitedStates
4 Brazil UnitedStates
UnitedStates
UnitedStates
Japan Mexico Taiwan Singapore Malaysia Chile
5 SouthAfrica
FSU Singapore Taiwan FSU REU UnitedStates
Taiwan Australia Korea
6 China MiddleEast
UK Malaysia China Germany SouthernAfrica
Indonesia UnitedStates
Singapore
7 Canada China EFT MiddleEast
Germany Japan India MiddleEast
Taiwan RAP
8 Chile Philippines Chile REU Singapore EFT China UnitedStates
Germany SouthAfrica
9 EFT REU Japan Chile Korea Chile Chile REU REU REU
10 MiddleEast
Canada Malaysia Korea UnitedStates
Brazil MiddleEast
Germany China Canada
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of European Union (incl. Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal). CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT = Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. RAP = Rest of Andean Pact (incl. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru).
Source: GTAP version 4 database
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 21
3.2.8 Wood products
a) Destinations for New Zealand's wood exports
New Zealand's exports of wood products (such as wooden containers, manufactured furniture
and fixtures) head mainly to Australia and Japan, which account for around 35% each of
New Zealand's total exports of wood products. The ten destinations in the chart below receive
97% of New Zealand's total exports of wood products.
Figure 15 Share of New Zealand's wood exports by destinationPercent of total
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Aus
tral
ia
Japa
n
Uni
ted
Stat
es
Tai
wan
Kor
ea
Res
t of
Wor
ld
Chi
na
Tha
iland
Kon
g K
ong
Phili
ppin
es
Source: GTAP version 4 database
b) Potential threats to New Zealand's wood exports
New Zealand faces a large number of threats to its wood products exports from the US and
non-Annex I countries, mainly from Asia. Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and Taiwan are
New Zealand's largest non-Annex I competitors in wood product exports. Chile and Brazil also
pose significant risks.
Table 14 Competitors to New Zealand's wood exports
Source of imports Export destinationAustralia Japan United
StatesTaiwan Korea Rest of
WorldChina Thailand Hong Kong Philippines
1 NewZealand
Canada Canada Indonesia Indonesia REU Indonesia Malaysia China Malaysia
2 REU Indonesia Mexico Malaysia Malaysia CEA Malaysia Rest ofWorld
Malaysia UnitedStates
3 Indonesia UnitedStates
Taiwan China UnitedStates
UnitedStates
Taiwan UnitedStates
REU Brazil
4 Malaysia China REU UnitedStates
China Malaysia UnitedStates
Japan Indonesia Taiwan
5 UnitedStates
Malaysia China REU REU Singapore Singapore REU UnitedStates
REU
6 Canada Taiwan Indonesia Canada Japan Denmark Korea Indonesia Taiwan Japan7 China Thailand Malaysia Japan Canada Germany REU Germany UK Indonesia8 Taiwan Australia Brazil Germany Chile Rest of
WorldRest ofWorld
Brazil Germany Thailand
9 Germany REU Thailand Chile Germany Sweden Japan China Canada Germany10 Rest of
WorldChile Germany New
ZealandNewZealand
UK Canada Singapore Japan Korea
Notes: (1) FSU = Former Soviet Union. REU = Rest of European Union (incl. Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal). CEA = Central European Associates (incl. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, etc). EFT = Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein. RAP = Rest of Andean Pact (incl. Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru).
Source: GTAP version 4 database
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 22
3.3 Competition within New Zealand
New Zealand producers of emission-intensive products will also be faced with additional
competition in the domestic markets. The cement and steel sectors have been widely identified
as already being under threat, since their output is perfectly substitutable by imported product,
and imports are already highly price competitive. Other manufacturers – such as in the wood
products and refining industries– will face increased competition.
3.4 Labour market
Depending on the policies implemented domestically, the Kyoto Protocol in its current form
may lead to significant labour market dislocations.
One possible response may be that labour resources freed up from the declining emission-
intensive sectors would be re-directed to other productive uses. Some observers have even
claimed that this could help transform New Zealand from a primary commodity-based
economy to a knowledge-based economy. But looking at New Zealand’s past experiences, such
transformation is difficult and likely to be slow. In particular, while New Zealand would be
giving up one of its existing sources of comparative advantage, it is not clear what would take
its place.
Also, it is not clear that the affected labour can easily be re-employed by new knowledge-based
enterprises that some predict will emerge. The incidence of job losses (or stunted growth) in the
export sector is most likely to fall on those with low skills, a relatively large proportion of which
are Maori and women (KiwiCareers, 2000).7 Looking at the labour content of trade, Deardorff
and Lattimore (1999) find that New Zealand’s exports largely embody labour with lower
qualifications, while our imports largely embody highly qualified labour.8 The adoption of
Kyoto-related policy instruments that affect New Zealand’s competitiveness will therefore also
have significant consequences for New Zealand’s social and regional development objectives.
Of the 1.4 million people in full time equivalent employment in 2001, about a quarter are
directly engaged in industries that are likely to be immediately affected by the emission
reduction policies, namely those in manufacturing, transport, agriculture, and mining.
Manufacturing is the largest employment area in the New Zealand economy, employing
238,040 full time equivalents (FTEs), or 17% of the total workforce (Business demographics,
Statistics New Zealand). Some of the largest employers in this sector are the energy-intensive
industries with an export focus that would be most exposed to reduced competitiveness or
leakage under Kyoto.
The relatively high proportion of labour employed in the directly affected industries, and the
relative reliance on low skilled labour in New Zealand compared to other Annex I countries
again highlights the likely burden of adjustment.
7 For more information, see http://www.careers .co.nz/ET/et- indoc.htm#nine
8 Deardorff and Lattimore examine the factor intensities of New Zealand's trade. See New Zealand TradeConsortium Working Paper (number 3) online at http://www.nzier .org.nz
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 23
3.5 Conclusion
Until emission reduction measures become global – which will not happen at least until after
2012, but more likely after that – New Zealand will suffer a relative deterioration in its external
environment if it ratifies the Kyoto Protocol and adopts policy instruments that harm its
competitiveness. Our existing exports will come under more intense competitive pressure, and
perhaps more importantly, growth dynamics will be altered. Additional world demand for our
key export commodities is more likely to be captured by the US and by non-Annex I countries.
Moreover, New Zealand will become even more at risk of the agricultural subsidy regimes in
other developed countries.
Past experience suggests that, to some extent, such a negative terms of trade shock will be
absorbed by lower real exchange rate. This will reduce the consumption opportunities of
New Zealand households, but will protect producers to some degree. However, past terms of
trade shocks have also always had real consequences for GDP growth. There are two main
reasons for this:
• Domestic markets are not perfectly flexible. In particular, as political pressure is brought to
protect the purchasing power of households (including access to public goods, such as
health), the benefits of a lower real exchange rate (export competitiveness) tend to get
eroded.
• Negative terms of trade shocks tend to result in lower investment in New Zealand, as other
investment destinations become more attractive.
The magnitude of the negative shock will depend on the level of the emission charge applied in
New Zealand. The economic impacts of a small charge may be minor, but equally it would
have little impact on New Zealand’s emission levels. It is not clear what the purpose of such a
regime would be. Any carbon that were to alter our greenhouse emission levels would also be
significant for the economy.
Table 15 Manufacturing employmentIndustries with more than 700 full time equivalent employees
Industry FTEs Industry FTEsMeat Processing 20430 Forestry 1630
Log Sawmilling 7420 Timber Resawing & Dressing 1460
Dairy Product Manufacturing N.E.C. 6080 Concrete Slurry Manufacturing 1410
Wooden Structural 5330 Metal Container Manufacturing 1410
Logging 4700 Corrugated Paperboard Container Manufacturing 1340
Fruit And Vegetable Processing 4600 Paper Product Manufacturing N.E.C. 1290
Food Manufacturing N.E.C. 4280 Concrete Product Manufacturing N.E.C. 1180
Services To Forestry 3700 Milk And Cream Processing 1120
Sheet Metal Product Manufacturing N.E.C. 2700 Fabricated Wood Manufacturing 960Architectural Aluminium Product Manufacturing 2610 Iron And Steel Casting 960
Structural Steel Fabricating 2520 Construction Material Mining N.E.C. 930
Structural Metal Product Manufacturing N.E.C. 2480 Fertiliser Manufacturing 930
Pulp, Paper And Paperboard Manufacturing 2440 Aluminium Rolling, Drawing,Extruding 880
Wood Product Manufacturing N.E.C. 2310 Aluminium Smelting 850
Synthetic Resin Manufacturing 1990 Gravel And Sand Quarrying 790
Plywood And Veneer Manufacturing 1980 Solid Paperboard Container Manufacturing 720
Basic Iron And Steel Manufacturing 1970 Concrete Pipe And Box Culvert Manufacturing 710
Bacon, Ham And Smallgood Manufacturing 1890 Non-Ferrous Metal Rolling, Drawing, Extruding 710
Poultry Processing 1840Source: Statistics New Zealand
Notes: (1) N.E.C. stands for 'Not elsewhere classified'.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 24
4. A FAIR SHARE FOR NEW ZEALAND?
The discussion above has highlighted two key issues:
• In contrast to most other Annex I countries, the New Zealand economy is highly dependent
on the production of greenhouse gas intensive commodities. It also has limited scope for
switching to lower emission energy sources.
• In contrast to other Annex I countries, placing a price on greenhouse gas emissions will
have a widespread competitive effect on New Zealand’s key export industries.
To some extent, these disadvantages may be offset by the targets and other conditions
negotiated under the Kyoto Protocol. For example, Australia has taken a strong position to
protect its national interest, and has negotiated a relatively generous target and other conditions
which minimise the impact on the Australian economy.
The Government has claimed that it has similarly negotiated a position which compensates for
the above disadvantages:
• New Zealand’s emission target is set at 100% of the actual 1990 emissions, while the average
for Annex I countries is a 5% decline below that level.
• New Zealand will be able to claim carbon sinks from the post-1990 plantation forests in the
first commitment period. Overall, the annual level of forest sinks about equals the annual
emission reduction target for New Zealand.
In this section, we consider whether the above two factors indeed compensate for
New Zealand’s relative disadvantage.
4.1 The additional burden of using 1990 as benchmark year
Over the period 1990-1998 emissions (including land use change and forestry) had risen by
about 5%, compared to a 0% target for 2008-2012. 1990 is an arbitrary choice as a benchmark
year for carbon emissions. It happens to be not a great choice for New Zealand, because this
year was part of a period of poor economic performance and negative net migration.
Benchmark based on low economic performance
As Figure 16 shows, during 1990 New Zealand was close to the bottom of its capacity utilisation
cycle. During the late 1980s, New Zealand’s economy went through a prolonged period of
below-par growth, as it undertook both macro and microeconomic adjustment. Not
surprisingly, emissions could be expected to grow strongly once the adjustment shock was
over, and the economy renewed growth. In this sense, 1990 for New Zealand is almost the
opposite of what it was for the former communist countries: for us it was almost the last year of
poor output growth, and the floor from which the economy would recover; for them it was
almost the last year of high levels of industrial production.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 25
Figure 16 NZ capacity utilisationProportion
0.78
0.80
0.82
0.84
0.86
0.88
0.90
0.92
Mar
-85
Dec
-85
Sep-
86
Jun-
87
Mar
-88
Dec
-88
Sep-
89
Jun-
90
Mar
-91
Dec
-91
Sep-
92
Jun-
93
Mar
-94
Dec
-94
Sep-
95
Jun-
96
Mar
-97
Dec
-97
Sep-
98
Jun-
99
Mar
-00
Dec
-00
Source: NZIER. Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion
In 1990, the level of capacity utilisation was about 5 percent below normal in New Zealand. By
contrast, this was a period of strong growth in other developed economies. Hence,
New Zealand’s slightly higher than average emissions target expressed in terms of 1990
emissions, at best, accounts for the fact that New Zealand was at the time at the trough of its
business cycle.
High population growth raises the per capita burden
A second reason why 1990 is a poor benchmark year relates to New Zealand being an
immigrant country, with relatively high population growth rates compared to other Annex I
countries. Net migration levels tend to mirror New Zealand’s economic performance. Due to
the economic adjustment costs of the late 1980s, this was a period of net negative migration.
Again, this trend reversed during the economic recovery of the 1990s.
Table 16 shows the average annual change in emissions for New Zealand and some key Annex I
countries (see Table 20 for a full list). Compared to the Annex I average, New Zealand’s CO 2
emissions grew more quickly since 1990. However, our per capita emissions growth was
significantly lower during that period. This was due to the influx of new migrants.
The main issue is that setting emission targets in absolute rather than per capita terms makes
sense for the countries of Western Europe and for Japan, where populations are either stable or
even declining in some cases. However, absolute targets impose additional burdens on
demographically dynamic countries, such as New Zealand. As long as New Zealand retains a
positive immigration target, the burden of absolute emission targets is going to be greater for us
than for most other developed countries. The obvious parallels are with the US, Canada and
Australia, all countries with forecast population growth: the US has opted out of the Kyoto
Protocol, and neither Australia nor Canada appear to be on a fast track for ratification.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 26
Table 16 Emission trends summaryMillion metric tonnes of CO2 from the flaring and consumption of fossil fuels
Total CO2 emissions CO2 emissions per capita CO2 per $1000 GDP
Annual average% change1980-1989
Annual average% change
1990 - 1999
Annual average% change1980-1989
Annual average% change
1990 - 1999
Annual average% change1980-1989
Annual average% change
1990 - 1999
Canada 0.7 1.7 -0.6 0.7 -2.0 -0.5
United States 0.6 1.2 -0.2 0.3 -2.4 -1.6
Japan -0.1 1.3 -0.7 1.1 -3.5 0.2
Australia 2.5 2.6 1.1 1.6 -0.7 -0.5
New Zealand 3.3 1.3 2.6 0.0 1.5 -1.0
France -3.1 0.6 -3.6 0.2 -5.1 -0.8
Germany -0.7 -1.6 - - - -
Italy 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6 -1.2 -0.4
Netherlands -0.2 1.1 -0.6 0.5 -1.9 -1.3
United Kingdom -0.2 -0.7 -0.3 -1.0 -2.7 -2.5
World Total 1.9 0.2 -0.1 -0.9 - -
Annex 1 average 0.7 1.1 -0.1 0.2 -2.0 -0.9Source: Energy Information Administration
Notes: 1. 1990 US Dollars calculated using market exchange rates.
4.2 Land use change and forestry
New Zealand will enjoy a substantial volume of carbon sequestration benefits from the post-
1990 forestry plantings. However, among the provisions negotiated in the Kyoto Protocol two
in particular work against New Zealand’s interests, and offset the positive effects of the sinks
regime.
First, the forestry arrangements negotiated for the first commitment period assume that
emission occurs when a tree is harvested, rather than allowing for carbon stored in the wood
products. There is no scientific basis for this: the rule is a simplification designed to reduce
measurement and monitoring costs. There is some possibility that the rule will be changed for
subsequent commitment periods.
However, during the first commitment period, this rule creates an artificial distortion between
tree growing and wood processing. As a result, sinks constitute a subsidy to growing trees, but
discourage on-shore processing. This is because there is an incentive to split the activity: locate
growing in Annex I countries, where it would attract the benefit of sinks, and locate processing
outside of Annex I countries, where it would not attract a carbon charge.
The negotiated rules for the treatment of carbon stored in wood products do not contribute to
global emission reduction objectives, but impose an additional burden on New Zealand. This is
because a significant proportion of New Zealand’s future economic growth could – in the
absence of such distortions – come from further wood processing. In fact, there is a
considerable risk that the currently negotiated arrangements would lock New Zealand into the
relatively low end of the total forestry value chain.
Second, the rules negotiated for carbon sinks under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
are likely to encourage further growth of plantation forestry in non-Annex I countries. The
CDM allows additional forests in non-Annex I countries (subject to rules defining additionality)
to claim the benefits of carbon sinks. This gives those countries a strong competitive advantage
over Annex I forest growers, because it allows convenient co-location of Kyoto forests and non-
Kyoto processing. In effect, the CDM rules, as they have been negotiated, reduce the relative
value of sinks to New Zealand forest growers.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 27
In addition, the CDM rules appear to work against the objective of encouraging non-Annex I
countries to join the Kyoto regime. CDM offers such countries the ability to enjoy some of the
economic benefits of the regime, without having to accept any of the costs. This ‘have your cake
and eat it too’ situation would be particularly difficult to give up.
Apart from the two issues discussed above, it is important to emphasise that the ability of sinks
to offset the effects of the Kyoto Protocol on New Zealand’s economic growth will depend
critically on domestic policy, which is still undecided. As long as sinks and emission liabilities
are separable, access to sinks does not affect the marginal cost of the liability. In other words,
while some forest owners will benefit from the ability to sell the sinks into the international
markets, the competitive effects on the New Zealand economy described in the previous
sections will not be mitigated.
Access to sinks has the potential to mitigate the negative terms of trade shock if sinks are used
to reduce the marginal cost of the emission liability. This, however, poses two problems. First,
such mitigation can only work if sinks ownership is retained by the Government. Apart from
any issues of property rights, this would further deepen the competitive disadvantage of
New Zealand forest growers, particularly if other Annex I countries do allocate sink rights to
forest growers. Second, such a regime would inevitably contribute to faster emissions growth
in New Zealand because it blunts incentives for emission constraint.
4.3 Conclusion
Overall , New Zealand appears to have failed to negotiate sufficient room within the rules of the
Protocol to offset the relatively high burden of adjustment faced by this country. This can be
contrasted with Australia, which has been able to achieve a broad range of concessions,
including a generous target of 108% of its 1990 emissions.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 28
5. A COMPARISON WITH AUSTRALIA
New Zealand often compares its performance and policies to those of Australia, because of
relatively close historical, geographical, social and economic ties. Like New Zealand, energy-
intensive commodities feature highly in Australia’s export profile (see Table 5), and its
emission-intensity is among the highest in the world. Like New Zealand, Australia’s geography
means that the distances to markets are large, and that its industries are exposed to competition
from non-Annex I countries. Australia’s population is forecast to grow by 29.6% between 1990
and 2020, compared to EU’s 1.7% [2nd report to UNFCCC]. New Zealand, Canada and the US
are forecast to experience population growth of over 20% over the same period.
So what is the impact of Kyoto likely to be on Australia and how does Australia intend to meet
its target?
5.1 Australian emissions profile
The Australian Greenhouse Office (2001) estimates that, excluding land clearing, emissions in
1999 were 17.4% above 1990 levels. With an estimate of net land clearing, emissions would
have been about 7.3% higher than 1990 levels. While not strictly the same measure, and subject
to uncertainties (particularly around land clearing), this can be broadly compared to Australia’s
Kyoto target of an average of +8% over 2008-2012.
Emissions per dollar of GDP decreased by 13% over the same period, particularly due to the
growth of the services sector vis-à-vis the energy intensive sector, as well as through increased
efficiency and recovery. Emissions per capita were 5.8% above 1990 levels (AGO 2001).
Like New Zealand and in contrast to other Annex I countries, Methane is a relatively important
greenhouse gas. But in contrast to New Zealand, Methane makes up just 25% of emissions, and
a significant proportion (21%) is attributable to coal mining and gas and oil production. CO2 is
the key greenhouse gas in Australia, making up 68.4% of emissions. Electricity generation is the
source for more than half of those, with transport accounting for just under a quarter of Carbon
Dioxide emissions.
Change in emissions in the other sectors has been relatively low. The reduced emissions from
industrial processes are attributed to process and plant changes in the aluminium industry.
While there is great uncertainty around the measurement of land use change, it has a significant
impact on total emissions. Emissions from land use change are reducing. Most of the land
clearing activity occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, but due to a mix of regulations, remaining
opportunities, and new land management practices, land clearing will continue to decline as a
source of emissions.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 29
Table 17 Australian CO2 emissions and removalsCO2 equivalent
Sector 1990 Mt CO2 1999 Mt CO2 Change Mt CO2 % Change
Energy 299.5 346.6 65.1 21.7%Stationary 208.5 259.8 51.3 24.6%Transport 61.5 73.9 12.4 20.3%
Fugitive 29.5 30.8 1.3 4.4%
Industrial Processes 12.0 9.7 -2.4 -19.8%
Agriculture 91.2 93.8 2.7 2.9
Forestry, Other -27.3 -25.9 1.4 -5.1%
Waste 14.9 16.0 1.1 7.6%
Gross 417.6 484.1 66.5 15.9%
Net emissions 390.3 458.2 67.9 17.4%Source: Australian Greenhouse Office 2001
5.1.1 Substitution to lower emission energy sources
Domestically, coal makes up 50% of CO2 emissions. Unlike New Zealand, coal accounts for a
high share of base-line electricity generation (80% in 98/99, ABARE 2000). New coal fired
plants are due to come on line in Queensland in 2002.
Gas accounted for 10% of electricity generation in 98/99. Lack of sufficient inter-state pipelines,
and the slow development of the national electricity grid has until now hampered the
expansion of gas fired electricity plants. Australian known gas reserves more than doubled
recently from 19.4 trillion cubic feet in 1998 to 44 Tcf in 1999 (EIA June 2001. Country Profile:
Australia). Major expansion of this industry is, therefore, possible. The large gas reserves and
potential to expand the supply grid suggests that the most likely effect of Australia ratifying the
Kyoto Protocol would be to speed up the growth of this sector. Not surprisingly, the gas
industry is one of the strongest pro-ratification lobbies in Australia.
There is also some potential for renewable energy sources. Wind and solar energy are
examples, with 350,000 homes equipped with solar hot water systems (Department of the
Environment 1997). There is some hydro-power capacity already (e.g. , Tasmania and Snowy
Mountains), accounting for about 9% of electricity production. (Interestingly, the share of
hydro has declined about 30% from 1990 levels due to capacity constraints.) In the mid 1990s, 13
hydro-power facilities were in the pipeline throughout Australia (e.g. the 1996 Ord River Dam
in Western Australia), but this new capacity pales in comparison to coal and oil as energy
sources.
5.2 Impact of Kyoto on Australia’s economy
Exports of energy, energy-intensive manufactures, and primary products are an important
source of income. Cheap energy, from coal and more recently gas, is one of Australia’s key
sources of comparative advantage.
Japan accounted for 29% of all Australian exports in 1994, followed by Korea (8%), and the US
(7.5%). Taiwan and China are also key destinations. Australia is the world’s largest coal
exporter (to Japan, Korea and some European countries). Other main exports are metals,
minerals and agricultural produce, all of which are relatively emission intensive (see Figure 17).
The Asia-Pacific region is a key export market, which means that from 2008 Australian
exporters could find it harder to compete with the Asia-based producers.
In its discussion paper on ratifying the Kyoto protocol, the Joint House and Senate Standing
Committee on Treaties cited findings that GDP would fall by around 1.9%, mainly due to lower
competitiveness of the coal and aluminium industries as well as other mineral resources. One
submission suggested that proposals to expand the aluminium industry with 3 new smelters,
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 30
for example, could be shelved as a result of Kyoto, with the opportunity shifting to developing
countries instead.
Figure 17 Australian exports 1994Percent of total export value
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
Tra
de &
tra
nspt
Coa
l
Min
eral
s ne
c
Non
-fer
r m
etal
s
Che
mic
als
Publ
ic a
dmin
Mac
hine
ry
Cat
tle m
eat
prod
s
Woo
l
Fin
& b
us s
erv
Oth
er fo
od
Ferr
ous
met
als
Gas
Whe
at
Suga
r
Source: GTAP version 4 database
5.2.1 Energy exports
Coal is a key source of domestic energy, but more than half of the coal is also exported, mainly
to Japan for steel production. Coal waste in mining results in some emissions, but most
emissions occur at the point of combustion. Kyoto would affect Australia’s coal exports and
domestic consumption through weaker demand as the cost of emissions from coal combustion
rises. For example, a carbon tax or similar on coal burning in Japan – which takes about 70% of
Australia’s coal exports for power generation and steel production – is likely to weaken
demand. As discussed later, one of Japan’s key planks to meeting its Kyoto targets was to
expand its nuclear power capacity, which would substitute for coal.
Australia, however, is also a major uranium exporter, and may benefit from any expansion in
the global nuclear power capacity. However, concerns around safety of plants and nuclear
waste disposal in the EU and Japan indicate that support for such expansion is weak. Germany,
for example, has committed to reducing its nuclear capacity (although in part by purchasing
power from French nuclear plants), and whether Japan will proceed with planned expansion is
currently uncertain. This picture may change when new nuclear technology emerges.
Australia also exports gas in a liquified form, particularly to Japan. While gas is a relatively low
carbon fuel, liquification is a carbon intensive process, and some type of carbon charge would
affect Australia’s competitiveness in this market. The Australian gas industry argues, therefore,
that Australia would be penalised for emissions it incurs on behalf of the world which benefits
as gas substitutes for coal and so reduces global emissions.
5.3 Australian prospects in meeting its Kyoto emission target
Australia’s energy sector (transport and electricity generation) is the main source of emissions,
and also of projected growth in emissions over time (Department of the Environment 1997).
The projections reflect economic growth and a changing economic structure. In 1997, it was
estimated that energy sector emissions would be 40% above 1990 levels by 2010. Taking into
account all emission sources (except land clearing), total emissions were projected to grow by
28% (110 Mt CO2 equivalents) between 1990 and 2010.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 31
The projections take into account fuel switching trends and the effect of the range of energy
efficiency and other programmes in place since the end of 1992. Given Australia’s 8% growth
target, it would need to meet the other 20% through additional emission credits from forestry
and land use change and policy measures. In gross terms, this is broadly in line with the likely
excess emissions in New Zealand from the same sectors.
But the inclusion at Bonn of revegetation and land management as creditable activities
significantly alters the balance. The rate of land clearing in Australia has reduced since the
early 1980s, and between 1990 and 1999 land clearing emissions are estimated to have reduced
by 31% (Australian Greenhouse Office 2001). Similarly forestry provided a net sink of 5% in
1999. The area of plantation forests has increased by 28% during the 1990s, and there are active
government sponsored policies to increase plantations.
This suggests that, compared to New Zealand, the Kyoto target may be relatively generous for
Australia, particularly given the scope to substitute gas for coal. The Australian Government
has also committed not to harm the LNG industry through environmental policies, and
provided for duty free importation of capital equipment unavailable in Australia. For example,
Cabinet agreed to indemnify the $4b LNG project for the NW shelf against a carbon tax. This
also indicates that other future big projects that cannot go ahead with a carbon tax may be able
to get exemption.
As noted, however, there are a great many uncertainties (particularly around land use change)
and pre-Bonn estimates of the economic impacts indicated the costs to Australia might be
significant (1.9% of GDP). In its discussion paper on the Kyoto Protocol, the Joint Standing
Committee observed that new economic opportunities might emerge, and some industries
might flourish under Kyoto (e.g., exports of new green technology, emission trading, and
renewable energy), but that other industries would pay the ultimate price. The Committee
recommended that ratification be withheld until more was known about the impact, and that
Australia’s national interest be put first in future negotiations.
“This means ensuring that:
• Australia’s economic growth, employment and competitiveness are not jeopardised;
• any abatement measures agreed to are cost effective from a domestic perspective; and
• any agreed abatement measures are environmentally effective.”
(Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, 2001, page v)
5.4 Conclusion
At all stages of the Kyoto process, Australia has taken an aggressive negotiating position to
protect its economic interests. The relative cost of adjustment for Australia is likely to be lower
than for New Zealand. Despite this, Australia has taken a cautious and slow approach to
ratification. On current timetable, New Zealand is likely to ratify well ahead of knowing what
Australia’s intentions are likely to be.
New Zealand faces significant risks from lower adjustment costs enjoyed by Australia, and
from differential implementation paths. The existing differences are likely to open further the
income gap between the two countries. The widening income gap would further exacerbate the
incentives on New Zealand workers and firms to relocate to Australia.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 32
6. KYOTO AND THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases requires a global effort. The developing
countries would need to take on binding targets to constrain and reduce emissions, and each of
the Annex I countries must follow up on commitments. But what are the prospects of that
happening?
The Kyoto Protocol creates two offsetting influences on the behaviour of developing countries:
• On the one hand, actions by developed countries during the first commitment period offer a
moral lead, which may induce future action by developing countries.
• On the other hand, economic distortions between Annex I and non-Annex I countries
provide a competitive advantage to developing countries, and create an incentive for them
to maintain that distortion for as long as possible.
In assessing the likely future effects of the Kyoto Protocol, it is important to develop a realistic
view of the relative pulling power of moral persuasion and powerful economic incentives.
6.1 The impact of phased negotiations
A number of reasons are commonly used to explain why developing countries do not yet have
binding emission targets placed on them:
• The developed economies have a historic responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions.
• As a group, the developed economies are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, whether
considered in total or on a per capita basis. The developing countries with 77% of the world
population account for only 32% of global emissions.
• Developing countries want the same opportunities to develop their economies as had been
enjoyed by developed countries.
• Developed countries have a greater ability to pay for the action, compared to developing
countries which have relatively low per capita incomes.
In other words, it would seem morally right and fair that the developed economies take the lead
(e.g. see Grubb et al 2001). The problem is how much of a lead is fair. Will developing
countries consider that they have enjoyed sufficient differential treatment after the first
commitment period? How much growth advantage is sufficient to justify moving to a global
effort?
The economies of the developing countries are growing, and so are their emissions. Because of
their large populations, China and India already are the 2n d and 5 th largest emitters of GHG,
behind the US (see Table 18). Without a vehicle to constrain emissions of those countries too,
emissions growth will not be stabilised or even substantially slowed down. The longer the
moral lead required of the developed countries, the less chance there is that global emission
levels can be brought under control sufficiently to influence global warming.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 33
Table 18 Top ten sources of CO2 emissionsMillion metric tons of gross carbon emissions from flaring and consumption of fossil fuels
Region/Country History Projections
1990 1999 2005 2010 2015 2020
United States 1,345 1,511 1,690 1,809 1,928 2,041
China 617 669 889 1,131 1,398 1,683
Former Soviet Union 1,036 607 665 712 795 857
Japan 269 307 324 330 342 353
India 153 242 300 351 411 475
Germany 271 230 246 252 258 267
United Kingdom 164 151 168 177 184 192
Canada 126 150 158 165 173 180
Italy 112 121 131 137 141 146
France 102 109 116 120 126 135Source: Energy Information Administration 2001
Figure 18 shows that, on a business-as-usual basis, there will be little difference in emissions
between the Annex I and developing countries by 2020. What is also clear is that, even if the
Annex I countries can stabilise emissions at 5% below 1990 levels over the 2008/12 period, the
amount of global carbon emissions will continue to grow.
Figure 18 Historic and projected CO2 emissionsMillion metric tons carbon equivalent
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
1990 1999 2005 2010 2015 2020
Total Annex I
Annex 1 meeting Kyoto
Total Developing
Projections
Source: Energy Information Administration 2001
Notes: The ‘with Kyoto’ scenario assumes that from 2010 Annex I countries’ emissions will be at 5.2% below 1990 levels, and constant thereafter.
The base case includes impacts of any climate policies already in force.
In fact, Kyoto might raise the amount of emissions from the developing countries over their
current projections. Developing countries will become more competitive if a constraint or tax is
imposed on emissions in Annex I countries. To the extent that there is a switch to similar
commodities produced in developing countries, their output will expand, and so will emissions.
The OECD has argued against this view. Baron et al (1997) cite research findings that
environmental regulation has not had much of an impact on trade flows or location decisions.
The explanation was that environmental regulation is only one issue and that other factors –
such as infrastructure, the quality and cost of labour, access to markets, political stability, and
exchange rate variations – are often more important considerations.
However, such historical findings need to be treated with caution because in the past
environmental and energy policies have been characterised by exemptions, particularly for
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 34
those industries most exposed to competition. Exemptions reduce both the economic and the
environmental impacts of regulations. For example, Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, the
Netherlands and Italy all have forms of energy and carbon taxes in place, but sectors that are
exposed to international competition and/or are energy intensive enjoy various exemptions and
rebates (International Energy Agency 2000). If developed countries are to provide any realistic
moral leadership, most of such exemptions would have to be eliminated.
While it is true that environmental interventions – regulation or tax – form only part of
investment and location decisions, interventions are meant to affect behaviour. The impact is
likely to be most significant where energy is a key source of comparative advantage.
New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the US are more exposed in this way than Europe.
To the extent that emission-intensive activities relocate to developing countries to escape the
higher price of carbon in the Annex I countries global emissions may rise due to relatively lower
standards and outdated equipment employed in developing countries. Baron et al (2000) note
that the amount of country emissions leaked in this way could be anywhere between 0 and 35%
of emissions.
Of course, as the developing economies grow they will invest in new stock of capital. This is an
opportunity to invest in new low emitting technology. Some of that will displace old high
emission production in Annex I countries. Annex I countries may actively encourage this effect,
as the Clean Development Mechanism will allow them to claim the resulting carbon credits. As
Barrett argues:
“... [this mechanism] is potentially of huge significance, for it provides the only means
within the Kyoto framework of shifting abatement toward the non-Annex I countries. But
the CDM has a number of problems... Not only do developing countries have incentives to
offer projects that would have been undertaken anyway, but the Annex I countries have
incentives also to select these projects, if they can be acquired at lower cost...” (1998: p30).
At the same time, entrepreneurs in the developing countries are likely to face lower
environmental standards and no carbon tax or emission constraints. It is reasonable to assume
that they will compare the cost of investing in new carbon-saving production processes to the
cost of using carbon-intensive processes. The kind of technology that will be invested in will
therefore depend in part on how stringent the country’s future environmental policies are likely
to be. And that depends on whether the country is likely to commit to targets in the future.
6.2 What incentives to join?
In theory, the partial coverage is to be short lived. It is intended that from 2005 the international
community will negotiate the binding emission targets for the second commitment period,
including those for the developing countries.
As participation in international agreements can only be voluntary, countries will only
participate if the benefits are big enough. The environmental benefits will depend on other
countries keeping their end of the deal. And that depends on the economic and political
impacts of accepting targets, the potential for free-riding and whether other countries can
impose credible sanctions (Wiener 1997, Cooper 1997, Barrett 1998).
Some developing countries would benefit directly from halting or reducing the predicted
environmental impacts of global warming. For example, global warming increases the risks of
flooding for small island nations and countries with low-lying coastal areas. Others would
benefit now from taking on binding targets as it opens the door to income from the carbon
permit trade (where it can not be captured through the CDM). And others stand to gain
economically from keeping the partial coverage of the Kyoto policies. For them, binding targets
would be costly as it would mean giving up a recently acquired windfall gain in competitive
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 35
advantage, particularly if these countries invested in more greenhouse gas intensive industries
between now and 2012 (Wiener 1997). Given the nature of international treaties, what would
stop those countries from insisting on generous emission targets, or even from bowing out from
the Protocol?
Grubb et al (2001) emphasise the importance of the ‘leadership’ effect: developing countries will
join once the industrialised world has demonstrated progress. After all, many developing
countries have already ratified the Protocol (in contrast to the Annex I countries), and Bulgaria
and Kazakhstan have adopted targets unilaterally. Kyoto mechanisms – such as the clean
development mechanism and the adaptation fund – would create the systems and momentum
to set the developing countries on a carbon-decreasing path, even without binding limits.
On the other hand, ratification by developing countries in the absence of binding targets is not a
useful guide: there is little wonder they are willing to ratify an agreement that would offer them
a competitive advantage, without having to make any firm commitments in return. More
importantly, a number of the key developing countries, such as China, have already signalled
that the Kyoto Protocol may impose unacceptable costs on them.
Many of the arguments that explain why the developing countries do not have targets will still
be valid when the time comes to negotiate the second commitment period. This will give
developing countries a range of moral justifications to defend a possible withdrawal, even if
only temporarily, from a deal they can portray as unfair or too harsh, without their reputations
suffering. They would, however, benefit from any carbon reductions achieved by the
remaining countries (free-riding), and continue to enjoy improved competitiveness.
Wiener (1997) argues that, under a tradeable permits regime, developing countries are likely to
have strong economic incentives to join. For example, he notes that as long as the targets for
developing countries are set at a level at which emissions would have been without Kyoto, then
income from abatement is likely to dwarf official overseas development assistance. (Although it
is not obvious what would be the environmental benefit of targets equal to what emissions
would have been anyway).
Even so, developing countries, led by China and India, asked that a provision which would
have allowed developing countries to join on a voluntary basis was taken out of an early draft.
This suggests that they calculate economic growth to be of more value than income from
emission trading. It may also suggest a strategy to build a negotiation bloc that is able to extract
maximum concessions at a later stage. Other reasons include a dislike of the carbon trading
instrument itself. Like Europe, many developing countries want to limit the ability of countries,
and particularly the US, to buy their way out of carbon limits. Former colonies also fear ‘carbon
colonialism’, that is, a loss of control over land use to private foreign interests (Wiener 1997).
It is also not clear whether there are any real downsides to developing countries if they resist
binding targets or withdraw from the Kyoto protocol. Other countries could reduce their
abatement to stop free-riding, but that is hardly a credible sanction (Barrett 1998). The Montreal
Protocol (a treaty to phase out ozone-depleting gases) did have the option to impose trade
sanctions on the controlled substances, and this provided incentives to participate. As it stands,
the Kyoto protocol does not have similar teeth to punish non-compliance or non-participation.9
“The bottom line is that many developing countries will co-operate with developed
countries in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere so long as it
does not require great commitment on their part (e.g., in terms of domestic political
conflict) and as long as the developed countries incur the extra costs associated with that
co-operation, a position that was taken at the Rio conference.” Cooper 1997 p302.
9 The possibility of border taxes has been raised, in the context of protecting competitiveness against non-
Annex I countries, rather than as a measure to induce participation.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 36
There has been some suggestion that countries which do not ratify the Kyoto Protocol may face
trade sanctions on the carbon content of their exports. However, the introduction of such
sanctions would require substantial modifications to the World Trade Organisation rules, which
would in turn require an international consensus. Hence, such a modification is unlikely. An
ability to enforce trade sanctions would, in effect, require the abandonment of the WTO rules –
something that developed countries are unlikely to contemplate.
6.3 Conclusion
The Kyoto Protocol is a risky agreement. It takes a punt that moral leadership and a sense of
global solidarity would offset the effects of perverse economic incentives. This does not
necessarily invalidate the agreement. However, it suggests that domestic policy in developed
countries, including New Zealand, needs to take account of the treaty risks involved. In
particular, domestic policy needs to manage the following risks:
• That economic distortions between Annex I and the rest of the world will persist beyond
the first commitment period.
• That the emission targets required to induce developing countries to join may be so
generous as to negate the environmental effects of the treaty.10
• That further costly economic concessions may be required of the developed countries to
achieve a global buy in.
• That ‘leakage’ during the first commitment period seriously impedes future economic
prospects, without any environmental benefits.
10 Alternatively, but related to the next point, this may increase pressure on Annex 1 countries to accept
higher targets for future periods, to compensate for any concessions made.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 37
7. PROGRESS BY THE ANNEX I COUNTRIES
Whether or not developing countries will take on binding targets depends in part on the
progress made by Annex I countries. We can get some insights into likely progress by:
• Looking at the trends in emissions, particularly since the early 1990s when responses to
global warming began to take shape.
• Considering how the stance in Annex I countries toward climate policies has evolved over
recent years.
Over the course of the international negotiations a number of country groupings have emerged
among the Annex I countries: the Europeans; Japan, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand;
and the transitional economies (among the latter, Russia in particular has been aligned with the
US in this debate). Broadly speaking, these groupings are organised around the preferred
degree of flexibility that countries should have in meeting targets, the nature and depth of the
emission targets, and the participation of developing countries (Samson 2001). We have
organised our analysis along similar groupings, paying particular attention to the positions of
those nations which have been, and are set to continue to be, the major shapers of policy
positions as it evolves.
7.1 Emission trends and the Kyoto gap
As illustrated by Table 18, between 1990 and 1999, CO2 emissions from the flaring and
consumption of fossil fuels – the main source of greenhouse gas in most Annex I countries –
dropped by an average of 0.4% per year in the Annex I countries. This suggests that good
progress is being made to meet the target of 5.2% below 1990 emissions. These figures are gross
emissions from the consumption of petroleum, natural gas, coal, and the flaring of natural gas.
They exclude other greenhouse gases such as methane (still the dominant greenhouse gas in
New Zealand). These EIA data have the advantage of providing comprehensive world data
and projections and help establish the broad trends, but it means that a comparison with Kyoto
targets is difficult.
Figure 19 illustrates the trends in CO2 emissions by key Annex I regions. In summary, the
picture of flat total emissions during the early 1990s is mainly explained by the transition of
Eastern Europe and the USSR from centrally planned economies based on heavy industry
toward market economies, and the reform-related reduction in economic activity. A similar
reunification effect explains part of Germany’s experience. At the same time, the UK is
experiencing reductions in emissions linked to its energy industry reforms and the switch from
coal to gas. Combined, these trends have driven the dip in emissions from Western Europe
during the early 1990s.
At the same time, emissions continued to grow during the 1990s in the US, Japan, as well as
other large emitters such as Canada, France, and Italy. During the second half of the 1990s,
Western Europe’s aggregate emissions started to grow again at about 0.9% per annum, on the
back of economic growth and as Germany’s reunification effect dissipated.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 38
Figure 19 CO2 emissions in key Annex I regions: 1980-99Million metric tons CO2 from the flaring and consumption of fossil fuels
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998US and Canada Western Europe Eastern Europe & Former U.S.S.R. Japan, Australia and NZ
Source: Energy Information Administration 2001
Figure 20 CO2 emissions by the top 6 European emitters: 1980-1999Million metric tons CO2 from the flaring and consumption of fossil fuels
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998
Germany United Kingdom Italy France Spain Netherlands
Source: Energy Information Administration 2001
So where do countries stand now in relation to the Kyoto targets? Looking at the data for 1990-
1998 published by the UNFCCC, including all relevant gases and adjusted for land use change
and forestry, it is clear that for most countries the Kyoto gap is increasing rather than closing
(see Table 19).
Except for Germany and the UK, none of EU seems to be on track to meet their targets. Table 21
illustrates this with projections out to 2020 as published by the Energy Information
Administration. It should be noted that this only refers to gross emissions from the flaring and
consumption of fossil fuels. In the 1990s, the growth in CO2 equivalent emissions by the
relatively big economies of France, Italy and the Netherlands had been offset by the reductions
in Germany and the UK, which together accounted for 42% of the EU’s 1999 CO2 emissions (see
Figure 20). The other Annex I countries look not much closer to meeting their targets.
The EU Commission currently projects its emissions to grow by 6-8% by 2010, compared to its
8% reduction target (Wettestad 2001). Germany and the UK are most likely to meet their targets
(due to changes which have already occurred), but without further measures most Annex I
countries look set to miss their targets.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 39
Table 19 Emissions and targets for Annex I countriesIncluding land use change and forestry
Country 1990 1998 % change Kyoto target
(% from base year)
Australia 493329 519873 5.4 +8
Austria 66237 72682 9.7 -8
Belgium 134406 144396 7.4 -8
Bulgaria 152433 78084 -48.8 -8
Canada 572628 670396 17.1 -6
Czech Republic 187556 144019 -23.2 -8
Denmark 68651 75171 9.5 -8
Estonia 29402 18400 -37.4 -8
Finland 51404 66602 29.6 -8
France 494162 488943 -1.1 -8
Germany 1175088 986252 -16.1 -8
Greece 105345 124315 18.0 -8
Hungary 98536 79266 -19.6 -6
Iceland 2576 2697 4.7 +10
Ireland 48477 57269 18.1 -8
Italy 492888 517908 5.1 -8
Japan 1129359 1225588 8.5 -6
Latvia 24843 995 -96.0 -8
Liechtenstein 238 - - -8
Lithuania 42700 31563 -26.1 -8
Luxembourg 13153 9928 -24.5 -8
Monaco 111 142 28.4 -8
Netherlands 216382 234551 8.4 -8
New Zealand 51537 53990 4.8 0
Norway 42551 38561 -9.4 +1
Poland 529540 372657 -29.6 -6
Portugal 59864 70196 17.3 -8
Romania 261954 157436 -39.9 -8
Russian Federation 2648062 1122441 -57.6 0
Slovakia 73878 51136 -30.8 -8
Slovenia 16919 - - -8
Spain 276493 340604 23.2 -8
Sweden 35031 46162 31.8 -8
Switzerland 48662 47598 -2.2 -8
Ukraine 867113 386225 -55.5 0
United Kingdom 762675 694835 -8.9 -8
United States 4888792 5953978 21.8 -7Source: UNFCCC http://www.unfccc.de/resource/ghg/tempemis2.html
Note: Some countries' data are not updated to 1998. Iceland (1995), Japan (1995), Liechtenstein (only 1990 data available), Luxembourg (1995), Romania (1994), Russian Federation (1996), Slovenia (only 1990 data available).
7.2 The evolution of climate policies
The progress by Annex I countries made to date does not look promising. Individually this was
to be expected: it may be more cost-effective to buy surplus emission permits if and when
trading starts rather than to reduce emissions prior to this date. There is also uncertainty about
the precise parameters of the policies, including the subsequent commitment period, so that too
much progress now might backfire if it leads to pressure to take on more challenging (and
costly) targets later. Concerns about competitiveness and scope for free-riding would enter the
frame too.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 40
In this section we consider the stance of Annex I countries on Kyoto over recent years and how
that is likely to evolve, by looking at key climate policy directions and pressures in key
countries.
7.2.1 European Union
The European Union (EU) is an enthusiastic promoter of the Kyoto Protocol, and has stated that
it will ratify Kyoto, regardless of the US. While the EU presents the face of Europe’s climate
policy, below the surface the conflicting perspectives of the member states have been, and
continue to be, crucial in how the EU climate policy progresses (Wettestad 2001).
So far, much of the climate policy promoted by the EU, from a community-wide CO2 tax to
proposals for energy efficiency and renewable energy requirements have been watered down in
the face of concerns from member states about international competitiveness, local impacts, and
maintaining control over domestic tax policy. This evolution of EU policy reflects the lack of
appetite to implement policies with economic and social impacts that might be difficult to
defend domestically.
Most EU members have climate policies in place. Most focus on energy efficiency measures,
promotion of renewable energy, and voluntary agreements with industry. Energy and CO2
taxes and levies are also in place (often predating climate change concerns) or are being
considered to align to an EU-wide regime. But exemptions are commonplace, particularly for
energy-intensive sectors, to protect competitiveness but also for social and regional reasons
(such as affordability of domestic heating or employment objectives). Some of the carbon-
intensive industries enjoy subsidies, such as coal in Germany, Spain and France. These
exemptions will prove difficult to unwind, which increases the likelihood that the cost of
meeting targets (e.g. buying emission permits) will be pushed onto other industries and
consumers in general.
Overall, carbon intensity from energy sector emissions has reduced in Europe as electricity
generation shifts from coal to gas. Transport is one of the main sources of growth in emissions,
but is proving to be one of the harder sectors to tackle. In 1999, taxes on gasoline in European
countries were already 67-73% (International Energy Agency 2000)). Recent attempts to put in
place or raise eco-taxes on fuel came unstuck when consumers and the transport industry
revolted against fuel price rises in Europe. The UK, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Belgium
had to make concessions on eco-taxes on fuels. Germany, with an eco-tax on energy
consumption and fuel, faced similar pressures. The UK offered climate change levy reductions
for industries entering voluntary agreements, and abandoned the scheduled road fuel duty
increase. France reduced its diesel tax and watered down its version of an energy tax on all
carbon-intensive energy sources except petrol and diesel.
The price rises had more to do with the international market for oil at the time rather than the
eco-tax, but the latter was the focus of the fuel protests. This, and the rapid back-pedalling on
implementation, gives a clear signal of the level of political willingness to support policies with
long-term international environmental objectives that incur strong industry and consumer
opposition. The US not ratifying the Protocol in its current form will be a mixed blessing to
Europe. As US demand for carbon permits falls by the wayside, the projected cost to EU of
meeting its targets could fall by as much as one half (Grubb et al 2001). But it will also serve to
increase industry fears about competitiveness.
7.2.2 Japan, US, Canada, and Australia
These countries, together with New Zealand, are united by a strong preference for maximum
flexibility in meeting emission targets. With the exception of Japan, these economies are
energy-intensive compared to the rest of the developed world. For example, measured by the
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 41
amount of emissions per $US1000 of GDP, the energy intensity of the US in 1999 was half as
much again as that of the UK, and almost two-thirds the intensity of Germany – the two key
emitters in the EU (see Figure 21).
We considered New Zealand and Australia in some detail earlier. In this section, we look at the
policy stance of the remaining countries.
Figure 21 Emissions per $1000 GDPMetric tons CO2 equivalent per $US1000 (1990 dollars)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
0.35
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Canada United States Australia Japan
New Zealand United Kingdom Germany
Source: Energy Information Administration 2001
a) US
The United States’ rejection of the Kyoto Protocol as ‘fatally flawed’ points to the key dilemma:
while the benefits of action are global (but realised in the longer term), the position of each
country is strongly influenced by its own national interests.
The energy intensive economies will be particularly affected by Kyoto. The US position is also
strongly influenced by its existing energy problems, with shortages in California the most
obvious manifestation of what the National Energy Policy Development Group terms ‘an
energy crisis’. Its 2001 report recommends action to improve energy efficiency, modernise
energy infrastructure, and increase energy supply and security.
While the US Senate unanimously rejected Kyoto in its current shape, pressure has been
mounting since Bonn for the US Administration to engage constructively with the process.
Without major changes to the Kyoto Protocol and its targets, however, it seems unlikely that the
US will join for the first commitment period. The concerns about the US economy stemming
from more recent events will only amplify those sentiments. The Pew Commission argues that
concrete domestic action may be more realistic and may pave the way for the US to join later
(Claussen 2001).
b) Japan
Japan, as the 4 th largest source of CO2 emissions in the world, was crucial to the survival of the
Kyoto Protocol at Bonn. But Japan is torn between its economic, environmental, and political
objectives (Grubb et al 2001). Japan’s energy intensity is the lowest of the developed world.
While intensity may be low, emissions are expected to continue to rise. That growth will be
fuelled by imported gas and coal. Nuclear expansion – a key plank of its emission reduction
strategy – has lost its public support, and it is thought unlikely that Japan will meet its emission
targets through technological means. How Japan’s position will evolve is unclear. There are
now obvious tensions between the environment ministry and the METI (economy, trade and
industry ministry). The METI is concerned about 1990 as a base year, which followed a period
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 42
of effort to reduce energy consumption – further cuts would be difficult. Japan is also very
sensitive to the US position – a key trading partner and ally. Japan is faced with a difficult
choice.
Recent reports indicate that domestic debate is shifting towards promotion of voluntary
industry targets.
c) Canada
Canada is the world’s 8 th largest emitter of greenhouse gasses and has been a powerful force in
negotiations. While supporting action on greenhouse gasses, Canada has also been pressing for
realistic and achievable emission targets, and maximum flexibility in meeting obligations. It has
argued for processes that give developing countries commitments and eventually emission
targets to ensure environmental effectiveness and an economic level playing field.
Canada’s position is shaped by its economic reliance on natural resources and energy intensive
exports, its closeness to expanses of nature, and the specific interests and decentralised nature
of its different provinces (Samson 2001). The degree of conflicting interests of environmental
groups, business, and provinces has meant that progress on national global warming strategy
has been slow, and so far has focused on voluntary action and energy efficiency standards. It
also faces a growth in fossil-fuel fired electricity generation, as it already has a significant hydro
capacity (62% of electricity generated in 1999) and nuclear power (14%). Ageing nuclear plants
are being replaced by gas-fired plant.
Preservation of Canada’s competitiveness has been a central plank of its official position over
the last decade. The US is Canada’s key trading partner, accounting for 78% of exports in 1997,
36% of which were energy intensive resource-based commodities (Samson 2001). Japan and the
EU are the next main key export markets. Ultimately that makes Canada’s position closely
dependent on US policy. Canada has stated it continues to support the Protocol. But if the US
does not ratify in time for the first commitment period– and this is the most likely scenario – it
will be very difficult for Canada to ratify without facing major economic costs. At best, Canada
will be seeking major concessions from the international community, given the combination of
concerns about competitiveness and the gap that still exists between its target and projected
emissions.
Figure 22 Canadian Exports% of total dollar value
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Veh
icle
s
Mac
hine
ry
Pape
rpr
ods
Che
mic
als
Woo
dpr
ods
Tra
de &
tran
spt
Elec
tron
iceq
p
Non
-fer
rm
etal
s
Oil
Fin
& b
usse
rv
Total
USA
Rest ofWorld
Source: GTAP Version 4 Database
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 43
7.2.3 Transitional economies
Of the transitional economies, Russia and Ukraine are responsible for the bulk (64%) of the 789
million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emitted by Eastern Europe and the former USSR
combined in 1999 (EIA database 2001). Emissions in those countries declined sharply in the
early 1990s, as economic activity declined and highly inefficient industry closed down. The
projected rise in emissions has not yet happened. “The process of market transition, with
associated price and institutional reforms, has tended to improve efficiency at least as fast as
economic growth” (Grubb et al 2001, p26). As Kyoto targets were based on 1990 emission
levels, these countries now have ‘hot air’ for sale (that is, ‘free’ emission credits, created by
factors other than abatement and thus with ‘no environmental integrity’).
The potential to sell their carbon credits gives Russia and Ukraine the incentives to align with
flexible policies. However, the credits will be worth significantly less without participation by
the US (as world demand for carbon credits reduces). At the same time, any prospect of an
early inclusion of the developing countries would increase the supply of carbon credits; it is
unlikely that, if developing countries were to join, they would agree to anything less than
business-as-usual targets. This would be a poor financial outcome for the transitional
economies. Even so, given their current targets, the transitional economies stand to gain from
Kyoto as long as trade in carbon permits is allowed, even at a discounted price. Increased
demand for Russian gas, to substitute for coal in Europe or Japan, would be another bonus.
However, there is a significant risk that transitional economies will pull back from their
commitments once the benefits of ‘hot air’ are exhausted. Environmental concerns (and
environmental ministries) tend to rank well below economic aspirations in those countries.
7.3 Conclusion
The EU has made it clear that it will proceed to ratify without the US, if only “to prove
arguments that it will be costly and unworkable wrong” (Grubb et al p 49). But overall, the
prospects of an effective global deal (that is, one with objectives that are achievable, and make a
positive difference to the environment at a reasonable cost) look shaky. As it stands, Kyoto will
result in a redistribution of wealth from Annex I to developing countries (and now also to the
US) with little or no reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The key emitting developing countries have few economic incentives to sign up to serious
targets in the medium term, and since Bonn, some of the Annex I countries will have been
revising in more depth the costs and benefits of joining Kyoto without the US.
Despite its serious flaws, it is still possible that sufficient countries sign up for the Kyoto
Protocol to enter into force, if only as an act of leadership. But there are already signs that any
actions with explicit costs on industry groups or consumers will be avoided through
exemptions. Policies which meet the Protocol requirements at relatively low economic costs are
also likely to provide little moral leadership, since they will by and large protect sensitive
sectors from the impact of emission reduction requirements.
When targets are not met, experience with other international treaties suggests that they will
simply be renegotiated. Given the scope for strategic behaviour, withdrawal and free-riding,
Kyoto may not be a sustainable solution:
“Countries can reason backwards. If future deviations cannot be prevented, why should a
country invest in abatement measures today?” (Barrett 1998, p21)
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 44
8. WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS?
The Government has signalled New Zealand’s intention to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in
September 2002. The Government has also signalled it will seek to implement policies to make
progress on the emission targets prior to 2008.
This section considers whether an early ratification represents the best policy path for
New Zealand, given its policy objectives, and investigates other options that may be available to
achieve these objectives. We do not discuss pre-2008 action in any detail, but note that
considerable amount of work has already been done by Government’s advisors on this topic,
strongly suggesting that only no-regrets, voluntary actions can be justified prior to 2008.
So what are New Zealand’s policy objectives? We assume that the Government aims to achieve
the following:
1. Encourage the creation of a global policy regime that would help mitigate the risks of global
warming. Since New Zealand’s own emissions are within the margin of error of global
levels, this policy objective is primarily satisfied by actions that encourage the main
emitting nations to take action. The key question is what specific actions, promises and
threats by New Zealand would best contribute to inducing the desired global behaviour.
2. Ensure that New Zealand does not bear a disproportionate burden of global adjustment.
This relates to emission reduction targets for New Zealand compared to other countries,
other negotiated rules and domestic policy options. We assume that New Zealand’s
interest is best served by doing the minimum to achieve the first objective.
3. Protect New Zealand from the risk of treaty failure. Irreversible changes should only be
made against secure expectations of action by the rest of the world. As long as uncertainty
remains about the actions of other global players, New Zealand should aim to keep its
options open.
4. The cost of the global regime to reduce the rate of climate change must not exceed the cost
of mitigating the consequences of such climate change.
In assessing various options against the above objectives, we need to keep in mind the key
insights from the preceding sections:
• New Zealand’s economic wellbeing is particularly at risk during the first commitment
period, which provides a competitive advantage to non-Annex I countries. In particular,
‘leakage’ will be a problem until the Kyoto regime goes global.
• New Zealand’s relative burden negotiated for the first commitment period is relatively
greater than the burdens faced by other Annex I countries. Greenhouse emission intensive
industries are the key drivers of the New Zealand economy, compared to their relatively
minor roles in other developed economies. As an immigrant country with a growing
population, New Zealand is at a disadvantage from any targets expressed in absolute rather
than per capita terms (developing countries are likely to face similar issues).
• Developing countries face powerful incentives to string out the distortions associated with
the first commitment period for as long as possible. They will need to be induced to give
up the competitive advantage acquired under the first commitment period rules.
• Once the economic costs of implementation crystallise, other developed countries may pull
back from their commitment. Australia, in particular, is taking a very cautious approach to
ratification. New Zealand runs the risk of going out on a limb, and facing additional threats
to its competitiveness.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 45
8.1 Early ratification
Against this background, how does the early ratification option stand up? The main arguments
for early ratification are:
• Moral leadership. In other words, there must be an implicit belief that earlier rather than
later ratification by New Zealand will increase the probability of other countries committing
themselves.
• Provision of certainty. This argument suggests that earlier ratification will provide a more
reliable basis for business planning, and hence will reduce the economic adjustment costs.
The moral leadership argument is difficult to assess. However, it is difficult to believe that the
timing of action by New Zealand will make any difference to the national benefit assessment of
the major developed and developing economies. For example, there is little evidence that
New Zealand’s leadership in trade liberalisation made any difference in convincing our trading
partners to move faster on their policies. The big difference is that trade liberalisation is of
unilateral benefit, whereas any unilateral action by New Zea land on greenhouse gas emissions
will only bring costs.
In fact, it is more likely that a combination of moral persuasion and threat will be needed to
induce developing countries into the global regime. The key threat that developed countries,
such as New Zealand, can offer is that they will pull back from their own commitments unless
others come to the party. In other words, the negotiating position for the second commitment
period would be strengthened if ratification were made conditional on a satisfactory completion
of negotiations for the second commitment period. Those negotiations are due to start in 2005,
with the ratification not necessarily required much prior to 2008. Similarly, New Zealand
would improve the likelihood of binding Annex I countries to their commitments by making its
commitment conditional on the actions by the key players, such as Australia, Canada and
Japan.
Any tie-in between New Zealand’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and the successful
completion of negotiations for the second commitment period would also improve our ability to
negotiate a relatively more even burden for the post-2012 period.
It is also not obvious that early ratification would provide the desired certainty. As long as
domestic policies remain uncertain, businesses would not have any basis for long-range
planning. It would make more sense to work up sustainable domestic policies prior to
ratification. In fact, ratifying ahead of knowing what these policies may be, and ahead of
knowing what action will be taken by Australia may signal to the business community a period
of policy instability and unpredictability. The worst outcome would be if investors perceive a
certainty of New Zealand willing to accept a higher burden on itself than would be acceptable
to other countries, and hence take this as a signal to locate elsewhere.
In conclusion, early ratification appears to be a relatively poor way of achieving New Zealand’s
objectives with respect to climate change policies, and of managing various dynamic risks
involved. The main reason for this is that the formulation of global climate change policies is
not a one-off step. Rather, these policies remain uncertain and the environment is dynamic.
Hence, it is in New Zealand’s interests to retain as much leverage over the future development
of policies. An unconditional commitment now reduces such leverage, and makes it less rather
than more likely that a viable global regime will emerge.11
11 All changes in probability arising from New Zealand’s actions are assumed to be marginal, but non-
zero. In other words, New Zealand is assumed to have some, but minimal influence over the behaviourof other countries. This applies equally to the analysis of moral persuasion and of negotiated positions.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 46
8.2 Domestic policies
This report does not directly address New Zealand’s domestic policies during the first
commitment period. However, the foregoing analysis strongly suggests that New Zea land
should only ratify the Kyoto Protocol if domestic policies can be developed to offset the
competitiveness and treaty risks discussed above. In other words, domestic policies need to:
• Compensate for the high relative adjustment costs faced by New Zealand during the first
commitment period;
• Compensate for the risk of leakage during the first commitment period.
• Compensate for the inherent treaty risks – that is, ensure that New Zealand does not incur
the economic costs of adjustment to an international regime that may fail to affect global
warming.
These requirements suggest two policy conclusions. First, it is difficult to see how any national
impact assessment of ratification can precede a full elaboration of domestic policies. The
relative costs and benefits of New Zealand’s acceptance of the first commitment period targets
critically depend on the ability to develop a set of policies which achieve the above objectives.
It is not a priori obvious whether such a set exists. This work still needs to be done.
Second, it is important to develop a realistic link between domestic policies and New Zealand’s
international objectives. The analysis in this report and elsewhere suggests that there is a trade-
off between domestic policies which protect the economy and the achievement of actual
emission reductions. Hence, New Zealand faces a dilemma. One option would be to adopt
policies which protect sensitive sectors and mitigate adjustment costs (this appears to be the
strategy increasingly being adopted by other Annex I countries). However, this would result in
only marginal reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This would undermine moral
leadership, and make it more difficult to bring in developing countries. The alternative is to
aim at actual emission reductions, incurring the related economic costs. This would highlight
the economic consequences of binding targets, and would also make it more difficult to bring in
developing countries at a later date. A careful balance – which can not be developed without
knowing what the domestic policies would be – needs to be achieved.
This point also highlights the need to pre-commit major developing countries to second period
binding targets prior to the commencement of the first commitment period.
8.3 Conclusion
In our view, New Zealand would be more likely to achieve an overall balance of the objectives
set out above if its ratification was conditional on:
• Ratification and a credible commitment to implementation by those key countries by whom
a decision not to participate in the first commitment period would sharply deepen the costs
of that period for New Zealand. This would be particularly true of Australia and Japan.
• Successful completion of negotiations for the second commitment period, which would
ensure that the main emitting developing countries, such as China and India, accept non-
trivial binding targets from 2012. The second commitment period would also need to
ensure that the former communist countries accept binding targets once their ‘hot air’ is
depleted. Ratification could also be used as leverage to improve on the negotiated
outcomes achieved for the first commitment period.
• Ratification should also be predicated on the development of viable domestic policies,
which would carry New Zealand over the first commitment period without undue damage.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 47
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NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 49
APPENDIX A: EMISSION TABLES
Table 20 Comparison of Annex I emissionsTotal CO2 emissions CO2 emissions per capita CO2 per $1000 GDP
Annual average% change
1980-1989
Annual average% change
1990 - 1999
Annual average% change
1980-1989
Annual average% change
1990 - 1999
Annual average% change
1980-1989
Annual average% change
1990 - 1999
Australia 2.5 2.6 1.1 1.6 -0.7 -0.5
Austria -1.1 1.4 -1.2 0.8 -2.9 -0.5
Belarus - - - - - -
Belgium -1.7 1.1 -1.8 0.9 -3.2 -0.6
Bulgaria -0.7 -5.2 -0.9 -4.4 -4.6 -2.2
Canada 0.7 1.7 -0.6 0.7 -2.0 -0.5
Czech Republic - - - - - -
Denmark -1.5 0.8 -1.5 0.4 -3.3 -1.2
Estonia - - - - - -
Finland -1.0 -1.1 -1.4 -1.4 -4.0 -2.5
Former Czechoslovakia -0.3 - -0.5 - - -
Former U.S.S.R. 2.3 - 1.5 - - -
Former Yugoslavia 3.6 - 3.0 - - -
France -3.1 0.6 -3.6 0.2 -5.1 -0.8
Germany -0.7 -1.6 - - - -
Germany, East 0.2 - 0.3 - - -
Germany, West -1.1 - -1.2 - -2.7 -
Greece 3.4 1.7 2.9 1.2 1.7 -0.2
Hungary -1.9 -1.3 -1.6 -1.0 -3.5 -1.6
Iceland 0.6 2.7 -0.3 1.5 -2.0 0.3
Ireland 0.6 4.0 0.3 3.4 -2.1 -1.7
Italy 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6 -1.2 -0.4
Japan -0.1 1.3 -0.7 1.1 -3.5 0.2
Latvia - - - - - -
Lithuania - - - - - -
Luxembourg -1.4 -2.4 -2.0 -3.6 -4.5 -
Netherlands -0.2 1.1 -0.6 0.5 -1.9 -1.3New Zealand 3.3 1.3 2.6 0.0 1.5 -1.0
Norway 0.4 2.5 0.0 2.0 -1.8 -0.6
Poland -0.5 -0.5 -1.2 -0.7 -1.6 -3.7
Portugal 5.6 3.6 5.8 3.5 3.2 1.4
Romania 1.1 -6.0 0.7 -5.7 0.8 -3.6
Russia - - - - - -
Spain 0.9 2.8 0.6 2.7 -1.7 0.8
Sweden -4.3 0.7 -4.5 0.4 -6.1 -0.5
Switzerland -1.4 0.0 -1.9 -0.6 -3.0 -0.5
Turkey 6.2 3.6 4.0 2.2 1.9 0.7
Ukraine - - - - - -
United Kingdom -0.2 -0.7 -0.3 -1.0 -2.7 -2.5
United States 0.6 1.2 -0.2 0.3 -2.4 -1.6
World Total 1.9 0.2 -0.1 -0.9 - -
Annex 1 average 0.7 1.1 -0.1 0.2 -2.0 -0.9Source: Energy Information Administration
Notes: 1. All emissions data are in metric tons of carbon equivalent.
2. Carbon equivalent emissions per 1000 1990 U.S. Dollars, calculated using market exchange rates.
NZIER – Kyoto Protocol: issues for New Zealand’s participation 50
Table 21 provides EIA projections from 1990 to 2020 (without any additional policy measures).
These figures are gross CO2 emissions from the flaring and consumption of petrol, gas, and
coal, and exclude other greenhouse gases or sink effects.
Table 21 Emissions by region 1990-2020Million metric tons carbon equivalent from the flaring and consumption of fossil fuelsRegion/Country History Projections % Change 1990-
2010 (commitmentmidpoint)
1990 1998 1999 2005 2010 2015 2020
Industrialized Countries
North America 1,556 1,742 1,761 1,972 2,119 2,271 2,423 36.2
United States 1,345 1,495 1,511 1,690 1,809 1,928 2,041 34.5
Canada 126 146 150 158 165 173 180 31.0
Mexico 84 101 101 124 145 170 203 72.6
Western Europe 930 947 940 1,005 1,040 1,076 1,123 11.8
United Kingdom 164 154 151 168 177 184 192 7.9
France 102 110 109 116 120 126 135 17.6
Germany 271 237 230 246 252 258 267 -7.0
Italy 112 122 121 131 137 141 146 22.3
Netherlands 58 66 64 66 67 69 71 15.5
Other Western Europe 223 260 264 277 287 297 313 28.7
Industrialized Asia 357 412 422 447 461 479 497 29.1
Japan 269 300 307 324 330 342 353 22.7
Australasia 88 112 115 123 130 137 144 47.7
Total Industrialized 2,842 3,101 3,122 3,425 3,619 3,825 4,043 27.3
EE/FSU
Former Soviet Union 1,036 599 607 665 712 795 857 -31.3
Eastern Europe 301 217 203 221 227 233 237 -24.6
Total EE/FSU 1,337 816 810 886 940 1,028 1,094 -29.7
Developing Countries
Developing Asia 1,053 1,435 1,361 1,751 2,137 2,563 3,013 102.9
China 617 765 669 889 1,131 1,398 1,683 83.3
India 153 231 242 300 351 411 475 129.4
South Korea 61 101 107 128 144 159 175 136.1
Other Asia 223 338 343 434 511 595 679 129.1
Middle East 231 325 330 378 451 531 627 95.2
Turkey 35 50 50 57 66 75 85 88.6
Other Middle East 196 275 280 320 386 456 542 96.9
Africa 179 216 218 262 294 334 373 64.2
Central and South America 178 246 249 312 394 492 611 121.3
Brazil 62 87 88 108 139 171 212 124.2
Other Central/South America 116 159 162 204 255 321 399 119.8
Total Developing 1,641 2,222 2,158 2,703 3,276 3,920 4,624 99.6
Total World 5,821 6,139 6,091 7,015 7,835 8,773 9,762 34.6
Annex I
Industrialized 2,758 3,001 3,022 3,301 3,475 3,656 3,841 26.0
EE/FSU 1,132 704 700 761 802 876 930 -29.2
Total Annex I 3,890 3,704 3,722 4,062 4,276 4,531 4,771 9.9
Sources: Energy Information Administration and World Energy Projection System
Notes: 1. EE/FSU = Eastern Europe/Former Soviet Union.
U.S. numbers include Carbon Dioxide emissions attributable to renewable energy sources.