Glossary Kuputaka

2050 target/net zero  

Set by the Climate Change Response Act 2002, this target requires:  

• emissions of all greenhouse gases (except biogenic methane) to be net zero by 2050  
• emissions of biogenic methane to be 24–47 per cent below 2017 levels by 2050 (and 10 per cent by 2030).  

A target of net zero completely negates the greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity. This can be done by balancing emissions and removals, or by eliminating the production of emissions in the first place.  

Abatement  

The reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions.  

Adaptation  

In human systems, the process of adjusting to actual or expected climate and its effects in order to moderate harm or take advantage of beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjusting to actual climate and its effects. Human intervention may help these systems to adjust to the expected climate and its effects.  

Baseline projections  

Compiled annual estimates of emissions that represent the expected level of emissions in New Zealand between now and 2050. Baseline emissions are calculated on the basis of existing policies at a given point in time. For more information, see the technical annex.   

Bioenergy  

Bioenergy is derived from any form of biomass or its metabolic by-products. Bioenergy comprises the heat, electricity, cooling and transport fuels produced from biomass. 

Biofuel  

Fuel produced from organic material – often plants or animal waste.  

Biogenic methane  

All methane emissions produced from the agriculture and waste sectors (as reported in New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory).  

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)  

The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.  

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)  

The extraction and capture of carbon dioxide from industrial activity or directly from the air. If captured carbon dioxide is not used (eg, as a chemical feedstock or purified and sold for uses such as dry ice manufacture), it is injected into deep geological formations (including depleted oil and gas reservoirs) for permanent storage.  

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)  

A long-lived greenhouse gas, produced by burning fossil fuels, that stays in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years.   

Carbon sequestration, carbon sink  

Any reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases, thereby lowering the overall concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Examples include forests, vegetation, peatland and the ocean.  

Charging point 

A power supply device that supplies electrical power for recharging electric vehicles. Some charging stations may have multiple charging points that can charge several vehicles simultaneously. 

Climate Change Commission | He Pou a Rangi  

A Crown entity that gives independent, expert advice to the Government on climate change and monitors progress towards New Zealand’s mitigation and adaptation goals.  

Climate change  

A change in the state of the climate that can be identified (eg, by using statistical tests) by changes or trends in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades to centuries. Includes natural internal climate processes and external climate forcings such as variations in solar cycles, volcanic eruptions and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) definition of climate change specifically links it to direct or indirect human causes, as: “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods”. The UNFCCC thus makes a distinction between climate change attributable to human activities altering the atmospheric composition, and climate variability attributable to natural causes.  

Climate Change Response Act 2002  

An Act that creates a legal framework to enable New Zealand to meet its international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.  

Climate resilience  

The ability to anticipate, prepare for and respond to the impacts of a changing climate, including those we can anticipate. It involves planning now for sea-level rise and more frequent flooding. It is also about being ready to respond to extreme events, such as forest fires or severe floods, and to trends in precipitation and temperature that emerge over time, such as droughts.  

Co-benefit  

A positive effect that a policy or measure aimed at one objective has on another objective, thereby increasing the total benefit to society or the environment.  

Decarbonise  

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for example, through low-emissions power sources and electrification.  

Embodied emissions 

Emissions associated with the materials used to construct buildings. 

Emissions  

Greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, where they trap heat or radiation.  

Emissions budget (EB) 

The cumulative amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted in New Zealand over five-year periods prescribed in the Climate Change Response Act 2002. Three successive emissions budgets must be in place at any given time.  

Emissions leakage, carbon leakage  

Where measures to reduce emissions in one country lead to an increase in production, and associated emissions (eg, because of a business relocating), in another country without an emissions cap. This may result in no reduction in global emissions, or even an increase.  

Emissions reduction plan (ERP)  

A plan that sets out the policies and strategies to meet emissions budgets by reducing emissions and increasing removals. A new plan must be in place before the beginning of each emissions budget period.  

Fossil fuels  

Natural fuels formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms, for example, coal and natural gas. When used as fuel, these emit greenhouse gases.  

Greenhouse gases  

Atmospheric gases that trap or absorb heat and contribute to climate change. The gases covered by the Climate Change Response Act 2002 are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆).  

Gross emissions  

Total greenhouse gas emissions from human activity (eg, emissions released from burning coal or other fossil fuels).   

Hapū  

Kinship group, clan, subtribe.  

Impact  

The consequences of realised risks on natural and human systems, where risks result from the interactions of climate-related hazards (including extreme weather events), exposure and vulnerability. They are generally effects on human lives, livelihoods, health and wellbeing; ecosystems and species; economic, social and cultural assets; services (including ecosystem services); and infrastructure. They can be harmful or beneficial. Also known as consequences or outcomes.  

Industrial processes and product use (IPPU) sector 

A sector that covers the emissions from industrial activities that are not directly the result of energy consumed during the process. This includes emissions from industrial processes that physically or chemically transform materials (eg, concrete production) and the use of man-made greenhouse gases in products – namely refrigerants.  

Iwi  

Tribe, large group descended from a common ancestor.  

Land use  

The arrangements, activities and inputs that people undertake in a certain type of land cover (eg, forest land, cropland, grassland, wetland and settlements).   

Alternatively, the social and economic purposes for which land is managed (eg, grazing, timber extraction, conservation or city dwelling).  

Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector  

A sector that covers emissions and removals of greenhouse gases resulting from direct human-induced land use, land-use change and forestry activities. Associated activities can affect the global carbon cycle by adding greenhouse gases to and/or removing them from the atmosphere.  

Maladaptation  

Actions that may increase the risk of adverse climate-related outcomes, including increased greenhouse gas emissions, increased vulnerability to climate change and reduced welfare, now or in the future. It is usually an unintended consequence.  

Methane (CH₄) 

A short-lived, but potent, greenhouse gas. It degrades in the atmosphere over decades, but has a warming effect 28 times greater than carbon dioxide. Once in equilibrium, it can continue to be emitted at a stable rate without increasing its concentration in the atmosphere.  

Mitigation  

Human actions to reduce emissions by sources, or enhance removals by sinks of greenhouse gases. Examples of ways of reducing emissions by sources include walking instead of driving, or replacing a coal boiler with a renewable electric-powered one. Examples of enhancing removals by sinks include growing new trees to absorb carbon, or industrial carbon capture and storage.  

Mt CO₂-e 

Megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.  

Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)  

The contribution that each Party to the Paris Agreement must define as its contribution to the long-term temperature goals set out in the agreement, in the form of an NDC.  

Nature-based solution  

An initiative inspired by nature that brings environmental, social and economic benefits and helps build resilience, as well as being cost-effective. Such projects bring more natural features into cities, landscapes and seascapes. For example, street trees or green roofs, rivers or water-treatment facilities can reduce heat in urban areas or support stormwater and flood management.  

Net emissions 

The overall balance of total greenhouse gas emissions and emissions removals from human activity.  

New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS)  

A cap-and-trade system based on government-issued New Zealand Units (NZUs). Emitters must obtain and surrender NZUs to the Government at a rate of one unit per tonne of carbon dioxide or equivalent. The legislated purposes of the NZ ETS include assisting New Zealand to meet the 2050 target, its international obligations and domestic emissions budgets.   

New Zealand Unit (NZU)  

A government-issued New Zealand emissions unit representing the right to emit 1 metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-e).   

Organic waste  

Waste containing carbon compounds that can be readily biologically degraded (including by natural processes), such as paper, food residuals, wood wastes, and garden and plant wastes, but not inorganic materials such as metals, glass and plastic. Micro-organisms can decompose organic waste into methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and simple organic molecules. (Plastic contains carbon compounds and is theoretically organic, but generally is not easily biodegradable.)  

Paris Agreement  

A legally binding international treaty on climate change. It includes provisions on mitigation, adaptation and climate finance. It was adopted by 196 Parties in Paris in 2015 and entered into force in 2016. One goal is “holding the increase in global average temperature to 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”.   

Range anxiety 

An electric vehicle driver’s concern that their battery will run out of charge before they reach their destination or a charging point. 

Removal  

Removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – see ‘carbon sequestration’.  

Resilience 

The capacity of social, economic and ecological systems to cope with a hazardous event, trend or disturbance by responding or reorganising in ways that maintain their essential function, identity and structure. Resilience is a positive attribute when it allows systems to maintain their capacity to adapt, learn or transform.  

Risk  

The potential for adverse consequences for human or ecological systems, recognising the diversity of values and objectives associated with such systems. In the context of climate change, risks can arise from the potential impacts as well as human responses to it. Adverse consequences may affect human lives, livelihoods, health and wellbeing; economic, social and cultural assets and investments; infrastructure; services (including ecosystem services); and ecosystems and species.  

Risk assessment  

The scientific estimation of risks, which may be either quantitative or qualitative.  

Risk management  

Making plans, actions, strategies or policies to reduce the likelihood or scale of potential adverse consequences, based on assessed or perceived risks.  

Sustainable finance, sustainable finance taxonomy 

The process of integrating environmental factors into financial decision-making to support this flow of funding towards reducing emissions in New Zealand. A sustainable finance taxonomy is a classification system to identify sustainable economic activities in the New Zealand context. This can include both green activities (those that reduce emissions) and transition activities (those that are moving towards green).  

Transition  

The shift to a low-emissions, sustainable economy and way of life.  

Vintaging  

The application of expiration dates for emissions units. NZUs are currently not vintaged.  

Vulnerability  

The state of being predisposed or more likely to be adversely affected. Contributing factors include sensitivity or susceptibility to harm, and lack of capacity to cope and adapt.