Greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector jumped 3.6 percent last year -- the first year in which New Zealand has to account for its emissions under the Kyoto protocol.

Ministry of Economic Development figures were released today for direct greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector and carbon dioxide from industrial processes.

But the figures did not account for emissions from livestock and carbon dioxide "sunk" in plantation forests.

The Environment Ministry claimed in April that the nation's Kyoto liability for 2008-2012 had swung from an estimated deficit of $546 million last year to an estimated surplus of $241 million.

Any liability, or gain, in terms of how much will have to be spent on buying carbon credits if climate change emissions are not reduced to levels agreed under the Kyoto protocol, takes effect in 2015.

Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said in April there had been no significant change in emissions from the energy, transport and industrial sectors.

But the figures released today show that emissions from energy use rose 3.6 percent during the year to 34.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent -- 44.3 percent above 1990 levels .

Emissions from national transport and electricity generation made up 42 percent and 22 percent of the total energy sector, with transport emissions dropping 4 percent on 2007, apparently in response to high fuel prices and the global recession.

Electricity generation emissions were 15.2 percent higher in 2008 than in 2007, because the dry year in catchments for hydro electricity lakes meant more fossil fuels were used for generation.

This was a key factor in a 37 percent jump in emissions from coal during 2008, compared with 2007.

Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fuels have increased by 72 percent since 1990, compared to a global increase of 33 percent.

The 2008 CO2 emissions for industrial processes -- 3.29m tonnes -- dropped by 5 percent, compared with 2007, even though since 1990 these emissions have been increasing at an average 1.4 percent a year, or a total of 28 percent.

The 2008 drop was driven by falls from 2007 in iron, steel, aluminium, lime, urea and cement production, though the ministry said: "It is hard to tell if this decrease is due to a decrease in production or an increase in efficiency."

It said non carbon-dioxide emissions from the sector were being calculated by the Environment Ministry, but the figure of CO2-equivalent was expected to be 3.85m tonnes.

Today's figures were released as the Government holds public consultations on what level of emissions reductions NZ should target for 2020.

That figure will feed into the UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December, which will set a post-Kyoto framework for after 2012.

Scientists have said that a target of a 40 percent reduction on 1990 levels by 2020 is the least change that developed countries need to make to prevent "dangerous climate change" of more than 2degC warming.

According to a senior climate scientist, Dr Jim Salinger, California's target of 80 percent greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2050, and Scotland's target of 42 percent 2020 are the kind of emissions cuts needed.

In 2007, it was estimated that New Zealand emitted around 75.5 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, including gases such as methane and nitrous oxide from livestock. But through carbon sinks such as forested land, 23.83m tonnes were removed. This resulted in New Zealand's estimated "net" emissions of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases for 2007 totalling 51.74m tonnes, a 3.7 percent drop on the previous year.