Sustainability

In social studies we have been looking at Sustainability. I had to look at a Sustainability issue in New Zealand. I chose this one 

New Zealand has high greenhouse gas emissions per person.

New Zealand accounts for a fraction of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, about 0.17 per cent in 2014. But, on a per capita basis we have an outsized carbon footprint, emitting 18 tonnes of greenhouse gasses per person, every year. That makes New Zealand the 21st biggest per capita contributor to climate change in the world. Amongst the OECD (other rich nations which we benchmark ourselves against) we have the fifth highest per capita emissions. 

This is because New Zealand has around 10 million cows and 30 million sheep. Cows and sheep emit methane into the atmosphere and methane is considered 28 times worse for the planet than CO₂. One tonne of methane is 28 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent

 48% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from  Agriculture. 

People are changing to sustainable sources of energy, like solar, and are changing to electric cars, to reduce the CO2 levels in the air. Electric cars produce little or no local air pollution, reduce dependence on petroleum (Petrol) and also have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. People are also trying to stop using plastic, so it does not have to be made so factories aren't pumping chemicals into the air.

What can we do to help? We can drive and fly less, instead of driving we can walk or bike, it has the added benefit of being good for your health. If you don’t want to you can car-pool with friends or take public transport. We also plant trees, In New Zealand, forests offset nearly 30 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions. Trees also provide shade which has a cooling effect in towns and cities. When placed around buildings they can cut electricity used for cooling in summer.