WELLINGTON: New Zealand could miss its 2035 emissions reduction target, despite being on track to meet climate-change goals for 2022 to 2030, a discussion document on the plan released shows.

Its carbon dioxide emissions in the five years to 2035 are expected to be 7% higher than targeted unless changes are made, according to a discussion document on New Zealand’s second emissions reduction plan released by the Environment Ministry yesterday.

The forecast failure to meet the target is in part due to the centre-right government’s removal of a number of its centre-left predecessor’s climate policies and fewer trees being planted commercially, the document said.

Another factor cited was the decision by the private owners of New Zealand’s aluminium smelter to keep it operating, which has an outsized impact given the country has little heavy industry.

 - Reuters