KEY POINTS:
Carbon emissions from visitors' air travel to New Zealand equal total emissions from the country's coal, gas and oil-fired power generation, say University of Otago scientists.
Physics researchers Inga Smith and Craig Rodger say the greenhouse-gas emissions from visiting tourists are far greater than had been thought.
The researchers set out to quantify the contribution of international visitors' air travel to New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions profile from 1983 to 2005.
Their calculations showed that in 2005, the CO2-equivalent emissions from the 2.4 million international visitors' return air flights was nearly 7.9 million tonnes, about the same as the emissions from all the country's coal, gas and oil-fired power generation.
"This equates to 10 per cent of the country's Kyoto-liable greenhouse gas emissions for that year. We were surprised by this percentage as it is much higher than the widely quoted world average."
Dr Rodger said the sheer size of the emissions and difficulties in offsetting them had far-reaching implications for both the tourism industry and efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.
"Awareness of the environmental impact of long-haul flights is increasingly influencing tourists' destination decisions.
"As tourism is New Zealand's No 1 export earner, these findings are cause for some concern ... it should sound a loud and clear wake-up call."
He said international tourism produced 9 per cent of of the country's GDP when direct and indirect (industries supporting tourism) contributions were included.
The researchers evaluated the feasibility of potential measures to offset the emissions to make the visitors' travel carbon-neutral.
Dr Smith said domestically based scenarios involved increased reliance on sustainable energy sources or reducing emissions.
"Unfortunately, none of the scenarios currently appear to be economically or technically feasible."
She said the installation of 4250 one-megawatt wind turbines to replace existing fossil fuel-based power generation would offset the visitors' emissions, but only at a cost of at least $10 billion, or $4150 per visitor.
"Such a switch would be highly challenging both in cost and finding acceptable places to put them."
Replacing current fossil-fuel generation with more efficient technology would be similarly problematic, requiring the construction of more than eight combined-cycle gas-turbine plants.
Dr Smith said regenerating bush could offset emissions but that would require an area the size of 15 Stewart Islands, increasing New Zealand's forested area by a third.
Such a move would probably require halving the amount of land in pasture, an approach that would be severely disruptive economically.
Tourism Auckland chief Graeme Osborne said the perception that air travel was having a significant impact on the global climate was a reality.
He said concerns about the effects on international tourism into New Zealand were already being taken seriously, especially as tourism accounted for 19.7 per cent of total exports.
He said it was important New Zealand acted as a good global citizen and the tourism sector was possibly leading the world in tackling the issue.
Tourism Auckland ran workshops to help businesses with the practical aspects of cutting carbon footprints.
Mr Osborne said Qualmark, the quality accreditation agency for tourism, was looking at adding an environmental impact measurement to its assessment, and Air New Zealand was moving at speed to be at the forefront of change to act responsibly.
He thought New Zealand would cope with the challenges by demonstrating its efficiency.
Luckily Australia, mostly short-haul flights, was our largest tourism market but Britain was the second largest and carried the most risk.
Mr Osborne said New Zealand would have to communicate its key initiatives in the long-haul markets.
David Parker, Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues, said the air travel emissions were a real concern which the Government was not trying to minimise.
He said Air NZ was already taking world-leading steps like its joint venture with Rolls Royce and Boeing to trial the use of biofuel blends.
It already had one of the most fuel-efficient fleets in the world, he said.
National Party environment spokesman Nick Smith said New Zealand should not take fright.
He said air travel emissions would likely be included under the Kyoto protocol by 2012 which gave time for New Zealand to reposition itself.
Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said New Zealand should aim for tourists who stayed longer.
BULB BAN BRINGS PROTEST IN UK
Energy-saving light bulbs can trigger migraines, claim British campaigners.
The Migraine Action Association said some of its members alleged the fluorescent bulbs had brought on attacks.
By 2011, Britain will be the first European country to phase out traditional bulbs as part of a strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The MAA is calling on the Government to avoid a complete ban on old-style bulbs to cater for people with health problems.
Last night New Zealand's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority chief executive, Mike Underhill, said he was not aware of any research linking energy efficient light bulbs with migraines. "These compact fluorescents are just the same as the traditional [tube] office lights. The fluorescent light isn't a new thing. What is new is to be able to make them in a small twisty, twirly form that you can put in ordinary light sockets."
