Emissions fell across every sector in New Zealand in 2023

Aotearoa New Zealand reduced its gross greenhouse gas emissions by 2 per cent in 2023 according to the latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

That is about the same as the emissions produced by a quarter of New Zealand cars in a year.

New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2023) shows gross emissions (total emissions other than forestry) were 76.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e) in 2023, 1.6 Mt CO2-e lower than in 2022.

Forests and other land uses absorbed 26 per cent of these emissions in 2023, meaning New Zealand’s net emissions dropped to 56.2 Mt CO2-e. Net emissions were 4 per cent lower than in 2022.

The Inventory is the official report of all the emissions produced and removed by human activities within New Zealand, and is compiled every year by the Ministry for the Environment.