Photo: Stephen JaquieryOtago contributed 6.9% of New Zealand’s emissions in one year despite being only 5% of the population, a new report has found. It showed that the total gross emissions for the region in 2018-19 was 5,821,025 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). That offset about 47% of the region’s gross emissions, resulting in a total net emissions for Otago of 3,180,627 tCO2e. The report said that Otago made up 6.9% of New Zealand’s 2019 gross emissions and 5.6% of the country’s net emissions, while it made up just 5% of New Zealand’s population. It estimated that the agriculture industry, particularly sheep and beef activities, accounted for 65% of emissions in Otago across four of the five districts.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 09, 2021 19:58 UTC