Title: Investigating the direct and indirect environmental pressures of New Zealand's food and fibre industries

Authors: Robbie Andrew, Vicky Forgie

Addresses: New Zealand Centre for Ecological Economics, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North, New Zealand. ' New Zealand Centre for Ecological Economics, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract: The production and processing of primary products has been the foundation of the New Zealand economy for 150 years. However, the economic benefit gained from the food and fibre industries has come with associated environmental costs. While the producer-centric approach is the prevalent way of viewing environmental pressures from production, consumption decisions also have an influence on environmental outcomes. From a production perspective, the food and fibre industries analysed herein together appropriated approximately 30% of New Zealand|s energy, 88% of economically available land, and 46% of the nation|s total potential. When environmental pressures are assigned by consumption categories, households in New Zealand appropriated 24% of land used in domestic production, 52% of energy, and 43% of GWP. Exports appropriated 67% of land use, 35% of energy, and 52% of GWP. The remainders were appropriated by Other Final Demand.

Keywords: contribution analysis; input-output analysis; primary production; environmental pressures; New Zealand; food industry; fibre industry; consumption; global warming; land use; energy use; environmental impact.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2007.017908

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2007 Vol.10 No.4, pp.319 - 344

Published online: 22 Apr 2008 *

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