The 1997 report, The State of New Zealand’s Environment 1997,
concluded that: New Zealand contributes an above-average share
to the world total of human induced carbon dioxide gas emissions
but less than the average for developed countries. … Although
existing measures have achieved some reduction below a ‘business
as usual’ projection, New Zealand is not on track to achieve its
current commitment under the Framework Convention on Climate
Change of stabilising CO2 at 1990 levels by the year 2000. …
Depletion of the ozone layer will continue for many decades and
requires international action. New Zealand has been, and
remains, an active participant in the responses to ozone loss
including the signing of the Montreal Protocol and the banning
of CFC imports in their raw form. We have moved to phase out the
use of ozone-depleting substances faster than internationally
required but do not yet have a phase-out schedule for methyl
bromide. (Ministry for the Environment, 1997, chapter 10.) The
report also raised some