2 - Introduction
Given the continued growth of CO2 equivalent emissions and the large contribution that agriculture makes to our total emissions (about 54%), ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will legally bind New Zealand to challenging greenhouse gas reduction targets. The potential to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions is therefore an important part of the long-term strategy on greenhouse gas emissions (Cameron et al. 2000). Because of the importance of agriculture to New Zealand's economy, greenhouse gas mitigation options need to have maximum effect on reducing emissions with minimum financial impact and other environmental consequences.
The objective of this work is:
- to identify and evaluate practices and technologies to reduce nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide emissions in New Zealand agriculture.
This report reviews these practices and technologies, evaluates their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, notes their effect on other environmental issues, briefly assesses the financial implications and ranks them on their ability to maximise agricultural greenhouse gas reductions.
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