Seasonally adjusted greenhouse gas emissions for industry and household in New Zealand decreased 0.5 percent in the December 2023 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
The decrease of 105 kilotonnes was mainly due to a reduction in electricity, gas, water, and waste services emissions.
“The fall in total quarterly industry emissions was driven by the fall in the amount of natural gas used for electricity generation,” environmental-economic accounts manager Stephen Oakley said.
Electricity, gas, water, and waste services industry emissions decreased 18.4 percent (356 kilotonnes) in the December 2023 quarter. This follows a 39.9 percent increase in the September 2023 quarter.
| Industry | Emissions |
| Households | 67 |
| Mining | 30 |
| Construction | 4 |
| “Services excluding transport | -14 |
| postal | -36 |
| and warehousing” | -39 |
| “Agriculture | -44 |
| forestry | -356 |
| and fishing” | |
| Manufacturing | |
| “Transport | |
| postal | |
| and warehousing” | |
| “Electricity | |
| gas | |
| water | |
| and waste services” |
Over the December 2023 quarter, industry emissions (excluding households) dropped 1.1 percent (189 kilotonnes). By comparison, gross domestic product (GDP – which accounts for industry production) decreased 0.1 percent in the same period.
Household emissions increased 3.2 percent (67 kilotonnes) in the December 2023 quarter, driven by an increase in household transport emissions, up 3.3 percent (62 kilotonnes).
Upcoming changes to our greenhouse gas emissions accounts
Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): March 2024 quarter is scheduled for release on 23 July 2024. This upcoming release will use updated global warming potentials from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report.
