Work needed to reduce emissions

Household emissions are up while in other parts of the economy they’re down.

That’s according to a Statistics New Zealand report on how emissions are tracking, with climate change minister James Shaw adding the Government’s work on promoting EVs will help households to free up from carbon-intensive transport.

.”From 2007-2017 emissions from households were up, and emissions in other parts of the economy were down, showing we need to continue our work to build a sustainable economy,” Shaw says.

“Our Zero Carbon Bill and ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme) reforms will pave the way to the managed transition to a zero-carbon future. This report highlights the sort of work we will need to focus on as a country.”

Shaw says households rely on infrastructure such as clean transport options to help them reduce emissions.

“Our Government is very focused on turning around decades of inaction on this front,” he says.

“The work of associate transport minister Julie-Anne Genter in promoting public transport, and safe walking and cycling, will start to stabilise household emissions.

“Farmers often get singled out as climate criminals, but this report shows we have work to do right across the economy. I know New Zealanders want to see our collective emissions come down, and that’s what this Government is focused on delivering”.