Green Freight Project

The Ministry of Transport initiated a project in April 2019 to help inform the Government’s strategic approach to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road freight in New Zealand.

The project looks specifically at the role alternative green fuels – electricity, green hydrogen and biofuels – could play in reducing GHG emissions. This work fits within a wider programme of work across the Ministry to reduce GHG emissions from the transport sector.

The project is focused on heavy trucks involved in road freight because they account for nearly one-quarter of all road transport GHG emissions. Road freight is vital to New Zealand’s economy and is predicted to grow substantially over the next 30 years.

Reducing GHG emissions from road freight, and long-haul road freight in particular, is one of the most challenging areas for transport to decarbonise.

The Ministry has produced two papers as part of this project. Both are designed to stimulate discussion and promote engagement. Neither paper reflects Government policy.

Read the Green Freight 2020 working paper