First report on Government Target 9 released
Current projections show New Zealand can reduce its emissions and reach the Government’s public service target for climate change.
- First quarterly reports on Government Targets [DPMC]
- About Target 9 [PDF, 200 KB]
- Target 9 technical annex
The first quarterly reports on progress towards the nine Government Targets have been published.
The Government set these targets to focus the public sector on achieving improved results in health, education, law and order, work, housing and the environment.
Target 9 is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions.
The report indicates the country is currently projected to be on track for the first part of Target 9, to ‘keep net emissions below 290 megatonnes from 2022 to 2025’.
The second part of the target is to ‘keep net emissions below 305 megatonnes from 2026 to 2030’. The analysis shows this is also achievable, with the additional policies proposed in the Government’s draft second emissions reduction plan.
The report uses a traffic light system to assess progress. The first part of Target 9 has been assessed as ‘on track’ (green), and the second part as ‘probable’ (green/amber).
The Climate Change Chief Executives Board compiled the Target 9 analysis for the report. The Ministry for the Environment has published a technical annex giving further details of the emissions projections and source data supporting the reporting.
There is always a degree of uncertainty around estimating future emissions. All projections are likely to change over time to reflect changes in external factors such as economic conditions, improvements to the way emissions are measured, and policy impacts.
Achieving Target 9 will mean we meet New Zealand’s first two emissions budgets.
This in turn keeps the country on track towards our 2050 targets.
Net zero by 2050 means that climate pollution, apart from biogenic methane, will be balanced by reducing emissions and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, for example, through growing trees. New Zealand’s 2050 target also includes a 24 – 47% reduction in biogenic methane.
The Government has recently released its climate change strategy, setting out its approach to delivering New Zealand’s climate goals. It also released its second emissions reduction plan discussion document, covering 2026 to 2030. Actions in this plan to reduce and remove emissions will be key to meeting Target 9. Consultation closed on August 25, and the final plan will be published before the end of 2024.
The plan also sets out how emissions pricing will play a central role in meeting our targets. The Government recently announced Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) settings decisions, which help provide certainty to the ETS market.
Reporting on the Government Targets will continue quarterly.