Greenhouse gas targets 'will not be met'

New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions are projected to overshoot targets set under the Kyoto Protocol by about 30 million tonnes, Cabinet minister Pete Hodgson said today.

Mr Hodgson, who is the convenor of the ministerial group on climate change, said projections at this time last year were for a surplus of about 30 million tonnes on the targets that had to be reached in the 2008 to 2012 target period.

However, this year's report was showing a deficit of about 30 million tonnes.

National MP Nick Smith said the Government had made what amounted to an up to $2 billion "mistake" in its calculations.

- NZPA