New Zealand Household Carbon Emissions: By the Numbers

8/29/20241 min read

New Zealand Household Carbon Emissions: By the Numbers

Total Household Emissions (Year Ended 2020):

New Zealand’s households collectively emitted approximately 39,674 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e) in 2020. That’s a significant impact! These emissions arise from our daily choices—how we power our homes, what we consume, and how we move around1.

To put it in perspective, that’s equivalent to about 8.5 tonnes of CO₂e per capita. Imagine each Kiwi carrying around their own personal carbon backpack—it’s time to lighten the load!

Regional Insights:

The Auckland region, home to about 33% of New Zealand’s population, contributed 2,402 kilotonnes (or 30%) of the country’s household emissions in 2021. Aucklanders are climate warriors, but there’s always room for improvement!

Interestingly, households in the West Coast region had the highest per capita emissions, clocking in at 2.4 tonnes of CO₂e per person. Let’s work together to bring that number down2.

Trends Over Time:

From 2007 to 2017, household emissions in New Zealand increased by a whopping 19.3%. The culprit? Rising emissions from road transport. We’re all in this traffic jam together!

In 2017, households accounted for 11% of the country’s total emissions (up from 9% in 2007). The remaining 89%? Well, that’s industry’s share of the carbon pie3.

Our Call to Action:

Let’s turn these numbers into action. How? By optimizing our homes, choosing energy-efficient appliances, and rethinking our daily habits.

Remember, every small change counts. Whether it’s switching to LED bulbs, reducing food waste, or carpooling, we’re shaping a cleaner, greener future.

So, fellow Kiwis, let’s embrace sustainability, one CO₂ molecule at a time! If you want to calculate your personal carbon footprint, check out Gen Less. Together, we’ll make New Zealand a shining example of eco-conscious living.

#JEOEnergy #SustainableLiving #CarbonMetricsNZ

Feel free to share these insights with your friends—it’s like planting seeds of change!

Learn more

1 stats.govt.nz

2 stats.govt.nz

3 stats.govt.nz

4 genless.govt.nz

5 stats.govt.nz