Reducing our emissions

Our regional emissions goals

We monitor regional greenhouse gas emissions. Hawke’s Bay’s first community carbon footprint was commissioned for the periods of 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21. To view the full report click here.

In 2023, this community carbon footprint was updated and emissions for the financial year of 2021/22 were calculated using the most recent data. A summary of the full report is available here.

What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are reported as CO2-e, which is a measure used for comparing greenhouse gases (such as CH4, N2O, carbon dioxide (CO2)) based on the warming effect of each gas relative to an equivalent amount of CO2.

Forests are both carbon sinks and sources. Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere but also release CO2 when harvested. Hawke’s Bay forests are a net carbon sink removing approximately two-thirds of the gross emissions.

The infographic below shows gross emissions of greenhouse gases in Hawke’s Bay. Over the last four years, there has been little overall change in gross emissions. 

Hawke's Bay's total gross and net emissions from 2018/19 to 2021/22

Agriculture and transport together account for a significant amount of the total gross emissions in Hawke’s Bay. Because of this, achieving carbon neutral will require both emissions reduction, more so in these challenging-to-reduce sectors, and increased offsets for unavoidable emissions.

New Zealand’s emissions targets

Aotearoa New Zealand has long-term climate targets: all greenhouse gases, except methane emissions from waste and agriculture biological processes, are to reach net zero by 2050. To get us there, we have set limits on emissions we can produce over time and have long-term plans to keep us on track.

New Zealand's emissions budgets

Aotearoa New Zealand uses a system of emissions budgets to meet our 2050 target. The Climate Change Commission is responsible for providing advice to the New Zealand Government on emissions reductions pathways.

In May 2022 the Government published New Zealand’s first emissions reduction plan. The second emissions reduction plan was published in 2024. 

The second emissions reduction plan covers the second emissions budget period, 2026–30. Progress towards meeting these budgets and our long-term goals is monitored by the Climate Change Commission.

What is the Regional Council doing to help reduce emissions in Hawke’s Bay?

• Public transport – we manage the goBay Hawke’s Bay bus network service as a low-emission transport option to help urban residents reduce their carbon footprint.
• Cycling - we support recreational and commuter cycling and walking with 200kms of Hawke’s Bay Trails, and we work with all Hawke’s Bay councils to connect with the iWay cycle network
• Getting our house in order – we’ve got a corporate sustainability programme to lower our own carbon footprint.
• Planting on farms (Land for Life) and wetland restoration are also important initiatives to drawdown harmful greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.

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