New Zealand in the OECD

Environment

 
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Emissions of carbon dioxide

In 2004, New Zealand’s emission of carbon dioxide, a gas which contributes towards global warming potential, was lower than average at 8.6 tonnes per capita compared with an OECD average of 11 tonnes. This places New Zealand in the middle of the OECD rankings with the sixteenth-lowest rate of emissions, slightly below the United Kingdom and considerably below Luxembourg’s 20.8 tonnes per capita.

 

 Emissions of Carbon Dioxide

tonnes per capita, 2004

  Tonnes 
 OECD  11.0
 New Zealand  8.6

Household waste

Household waste is waste generated by the domestic activity of households. It includes garbage, bulk waste and separately collected waste. At 400 kilograms per capita in 2004, New Zealand generates the same amount as Australia, the ninth-highest rate of household waste in the OECD. This is higher than the OECD average of 372kg.

 

 Household Waste

kilograms per capita, 2002

   Kilograms
 New Zealand  400
 OECD  372

Protected areas

A ‘protected area’ is one in which restrictions are enforced on activities allowed in the area. They include restrictions on both building and access by people. The category includes strict nature reserves, wilderness areas, national parks, natural monuments, habitat/species management areas and protected landscapes. New Zealand has almost 30 percent of its total area protected, the fourth-highest figure in the OECD and more than twice the OECD average of 14.6 percent. Only Denmark, Austria and Germany have greater proportions of protected area.

 

 Major Protected Areas

(15 KB), percentage of national territory, 2003

   2003
 New Zealand  29.6
 OECD  14.6
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