Majority support for pathway to net zero transport emissions

Strong support has been given to a Ministry of Transport report outlining potential policies and pathways to a net zero emission transport sector over the next 30 years. 

Hīkina te Kohupara – Kia mauri ora ai te iwi – Transport Emissions: Pathways to Net Zero by 2050 sets out a system-wide approach for reducing transport emissions across three themes.

It includes changing the way we travel to reduce dependence on private motorised vehicles; increasing the supply of cleaner and zero emission passenger vehicles and supporting infrastructure; and supporting a more efficient freight system including biofuels, electrification, and green hydrogen for trucks. 

Submissions on the report closed in June and the Government has released a summary of feedback received. 

The ministry received a total of 767 submissions – 190 of these were unique individual or group submissions, and 577 of these were Greenpeace template submissions.

Feedback will feed into the transport chapter of the Government’s first Emissions Reduction Plan which must be published by December 31, 2021.

Submissions came from academics, universities, research institutions, student bodies, government agencies, hapū and iwi, NGOs and community groups, private companies and business/industry associations. 

When excluding Greenpeace template submissions, 69% of the 190 unique submitters expressed support for Hīkina te Kohupara while 47% were generally supportive and 22% were supportive but wanted a higher level of ambition. 

Only 6% were not supportive and 11% did not express any opinion. When including Greenpeace template submissions, there was 93% support was given to the report with 81% calling for a higher level of ambition. 

Aviation policy needed

Only a few submitters commented on the scope of the report and this was focused around aviation emissions. These submitters acknowledged that addressing international emissions was currently out of scope for the Government’s net zero 2050 target but suggested this should not prevent it from making a position statement on international emissions, and considering a sustainable aviation fuel policy. 

Many submitters, in particular councils, provided detailed comments on the Government’s role and available levers for reducing transport emissions. Many agreed that the Government would play a central role in reducing transport emissions.

“We agree with the Ministry that Government’s role in the transport transition is clear in that it needs to set the national direction through policy and funding, drive cross- sector collaboration to deliver a just transition and lead by example,” said one of the submitters. 

Many councils emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between central and local government in order to reduce transport emissions, especially as some larger councils have control or influence to support emissions reduction. 

One council stated: “Understanding the approach that central government intends to take towards collaborating with local government will have a strong influence on the ability of local government to contribute to the nation-wide approach to emissions reduction.”

Many submitters, particularly NGOs and community groups, stressed that all levers need to be ‘pulled’ to meet a net zero target. 

Incentives rather than bans

Several private companies emphasised regulatory levers and financial incentives needed to be carefully considered. 

One submitter stated: “Regulatory intervention must be considered carefully and if it is necessary, we believe the policy choices should favour incentives rather than bans to achieve the desired outcome. 

“Financial incentives have a role to play, but their application does need to be considered against real world application in the region to avoid unintended consequences,” it said. 

However, one private company stated, “as we are takers of technology, we could be much further ahead of the game” if government regulated us to do so. 

Transport minister Michael Wood says progress has already been made with initiatives like the Clean Car Package but the Government will “have to go further” to meet its targets.

“Domestic transport emissions increased by 90% since 1990 and they need to fall significantly for us to reach our goal of net zero emissions by 2050 – that’s why we wanted to have a national conversation about what steps we need to take,” Wood says. 

“The pathways outlined in Hīkina te Kohupara show it will be a big task, but getting to net zero transport emissions is achievable. If we achieve our goal, we will clean up our air, unclog our cities and support our economic recovery by creating sustainable jobs across the nation,” he says. 

Wood says there is strong support for the measure outlined in the report. 

“There was broad support for three themes of changing the way we travel, improving our passenger vehicles, and supporting a more efficient freight system.

“Submitters, particularly councils, agreed to the need for a systems-lead approach to rapidly avoid and reduce emissions, and cautioned against a siloed approach. 

“We’ve listened and the feedback has been incorporated in the transport chapter of the all-of-Government draft Emissions Reduction Plan, which will be released in the coming weeks. This will outline the steps the Government proposes to take to drive down emissions,” Wood says.