Land-use Intensity and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the LURNZ Model

This paper documents the development of new land-use intensity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions modules for the Land Use in Rural New Zealand (LURNZ) model. These modules translate simulated land-use outcomes into measures of rural economic activity and greenhouse gas emissions for dairy farming and sheep-beef farming. Emissions in LURNZ include those from livestock as well as from synthetic fertiliser use. We utilise the latest set of emission factors along with information on the distribution of rural activities to model GHG emissions in a spatially and temporally explicit manner. Our results at the national level are approximately consistent with New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory.