This Flagship supports New Zealand to reduce national net greenhouse gas emissions. We will determine and verify the emissions from, and sequestration potential of, our primary production sector, our indigenous forests, and our coastal and marine environments.
We work with government and industry (especially the Ministry for Primary Industries and New Zealand’s forestry and agriculture sector) to create, implement and verify emission mitigation policies and practices that are effective and efficient. This Flagship also provides internationally important observations of Southern Hemisphere atmospheric change, and is part of the WMO’s Global Atmospheric Watch network, and the Global Climate Observing System.
The national need for this research arises from New Zealand’s goal to reduce net emissions of all greenhouse gases (excluding biogenic methane) to zero by 2050, as stipulated by the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act and outlined in the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan. This Act also requires interim emission budgets on the pathway to zero carbon, alongside a significant reduction in biogenic methane emissions.
This Flagship develops and tests satellite, airborne and ground-based systems for the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions and their attribution to key sectors and sources. Using cutting edge advanced technology, AI and high-precision remote sensing, we will develop models and decision-support tools to help stakeholders develop and implement low-emissions approaches. We maintain and disseminate high-precision, world-leading, long-term measurements of other atmospheric trace gases, including ozone, from our atmospheric monitoring stations at Lauder (Central Otago), Baring Head (Wellington), and Antarctica.
