Climate change and our energy use
In New Zealand, our energy use makes up almost 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions.
Those emissions are created when we burn fossil fuels – driving a petrol car or diesel truck, travelling by plane, burning gas for manufacturing or burning coal to create electricity.
Climate change is the most urgent global environmental challenge of our time. We must be bold and accelerate decarbonisation to leave future generations a healthy, stable planet.
A snapshot of New Zealand's emissions
How New Zealand is tracking
New Zealand has a commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We've also committed to reducing emissions to 50% below 2005 levels by 2030.
While emissions are projected to decrease between now and 2050, we need to ramp up our climate response to meet the 2050 target.
Our gross and net emissions over time
The language of climate change
Climate change itself is complicated, and the language used to talk about it is no different. We've put together a guide to help explain some of the words and phrases around climate change, from greenhouse gases and carbon offsetting, to the Paris Agreement.
The breakdown of our emissions
Almost 40% of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector, including light vehicles, manufacturing and construction, other transport, and electricity generation. The rest of our greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, waste, and industrial processes.
Climate change and the electricity grid
Get a better understanding of New Zealand's mostly-renewable electricity system, and why the time of day we use electricity makes a difference.
History will only remember what we do
The climate crisis requires an urgent response.
For 12 months, we captured Kiwis taking climate actions, big and small, putting them on the right side of history. From people swapping out car trips for bike rides to big green projects like electric ferries and ditching industrial coal boilers, we can see that New Zealanders are making a difference.
Helpful resources
There's a lot of great information out there on climate change, whether you want to learn more about the science, learn how it’s impacting us, find out what the government is doing, or discover what you can do.
- Climate action for everyone — discover the actions you can take in your home, transport, and everyday life.
- Climate action for businesses — learn more about running a low-carbon business.
- Ministry for the Environment(external link) — find out more about the science and evidence for climate change, and what New Zealand is doing.
- The Forever Project(external link) — Stuff's climate change hub, covering the latest issues around climate change and how they’re affecting New Zealand.
- Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment(external link) — find out more about the transition to a low emissions economy and renewable energy.
- FutureFit(external link) — calculate your own carbon footprint and discover ways you can reduce your impact.
- Climate Action Toolbox(external link) — a tool that gives small and medium businesses tailored advice on how to reduce their impact.
Continue reading
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Calculate your carbon footprint
Understanding your carbon footprint is a great place to start when it comes to tackling climate change.
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The electricity grid
Why the time of day we use electricity makes a difference.
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The Emissions Trading Scheme explained
Find out how the Emissions Trading Scheme works and what impact it has on you.