Climate Change and Bunker Fuels

Fuel which is solely used for international shipping and international aviation is not required to comply with New Zealand government initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to rules within the Kyoto Protocol. This international agreement, of which New Zealand is a signatory to, addresses global warming and aims to reduce climate change by reducing total greenhouse gas emissions.

The domestic shipping and aviation industry in New Zealand was responsible for producing 1.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2005. These emissions are included in New Zealand's Inventory and will be required to be accounted for in New Zealand's international climate change obligation under the Kyoto Protocol. Emissions from the domestic use of fuel will be covered by the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

The greenhouse gas emissions from fuel used by New Zealand's shipping and aviation industry for international travel were 3.2 million tonnes in 2005. However, while these emissions are required to be noted, they are not required to be accounted for in New Zealand's Kyoto Protocol obligation. This is the same for all countries who have ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

The international bodies responsible for these greenhouse gas emissions are the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization. Their role has been to ensure countries can accurately monitor and report emissions arising from these transport modes. They also encourage operational and technical changes to the shipping and air fleets that reduce emissions. This work contributes to the international climate change negotiations which are looking to see if emissions from international fuel usage will form part of a future global agreement after 2012.

The Ministry of Transport, together with Maritime New Zealand, contribute to these international meetings.