0.17% not 1%

Stuff reports:

Former US vice president Al Gore has commended Jacinda Ardern and the new Government on its bold direction on climate change.

Lots of rhetoric so far, but few actual policies.

Ardern said New Zealand had to be a responsible member of the international community and a responsible neighbour.

Just because New Zealand’s carbon emissions accounted for about 1 per cent of the global total, that did not diminish the country’s responsibility.

We’re not 1% of greenhouse gas emissions. We’re 0.17%. If we were 1% we’d be the 16th largest emitter. We’re in 60th place. That is a huge difference.

Also Ardern said carbon emissions. That is a sub-set of greenhouse gas emissions. I assume she meant greenhouse gas emissions but if she didn’t then we’re even lower. We’re at 0.09% and in 71st place.

Ardern also talked briefly of the Government’s policies specifically related to climate change – including the target of net-zero carbon by 2050, planting 1 billion trees over 10 years, 100 per cent renewable energy by 2035 and transitioning to a zero-emissions government vehicle fleet.

Here’s the problem. Those three policies will have a small impact on our level of net emissions. They’re cosmetically attractive but not substantive in terms of that target.