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New Zealand signs up to Kyoto Protocol extension period

Xinhua, December 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

New Zealand is to ratify the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, which extends the protocol's agreement on cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) out to 2020, Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser said Tuesday.

Groser announced in November 2012 that New Zealand would take an emissions pledge under the United Nations Framework Agreement on Climate Change, rather than renew its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.

However, the Doha Amendment created a second commitment period from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2020.

"We see ratification of the amendment as critical for maintaining momentum in global climate change negotiations," Groser said in a statement.

"While New Zealand made its commitment for this period under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol's parent treaty, we want to support this amendment's entry into force," he said.

"It is also critical that New Zealand can influence decisions that may have significant long-term impacts on our economy such as access to international carbon markets and accounting rules for the land sector," he added.

New Zealand would continue to apply the Kyoto rules to its target under the UNFCCC of reducing GHG emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

The Doha Amendment must be accepted by three-quarters of Kyoto Protocol parties - or at least 144 countries - to enter into force. New Zealand is the 55th country to signal its acceptance.

The announcement came the same day that Prime Minister John Key told the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris that New Zealand would commit another 20 million NZ dollars (13.26 million U.S. dollars) over four years to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.

"In New Zealand half our emissions are from agriculture where there are not yet cost effective ways of reducing emissions, but we are working hard to change that," Key said in a statement from his office.

"The sooner we have technology available, the sooner farmers can start using it to further reduce emissions both in New Zealand and in other countries," Key said.

The new funding was on top of New Zealand's initial investment of 45 million NZ dollars (29.85 million U.S. dollars).

The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases was formed in 2009 and has 46 member countries. Endit