Tracking progress Carbon Neutral Government Programme

View the list of CNGP participants (PDF, 174KB)

Overall, CNGP emissions reported for 2024 were 1,382,821tCO₂-e. For most participants, this is from financial year 2023/4, and for some it is from calendar year 2023. This is a 20% (338,580 tCO₂-e) reduction from base year and the programme is not only on track to achieve 2025 targets, but have already exceeded them.  

Emissions have also reduced on an intensity basis. This indicates that emission reductions achieved to date are largely independent of changes in organisational size or budgets, although specific circumstances vary between organisations.  

Seventy-one percent of CNGP organisations that have set a 2025 target, have already achieved their 2025 emission reductions target compared with their respective base years. The emission reductions achieved to date indicate that most (75%) of programme participants are on a reduction trajectory consistent with achieving their 2025 CNGP 1.5^oC-aligned reduction targets. Forty-six percent indicated they are confident or very confident in achieving their 2030 reduction targets.

Progress toward targets

Sixty-nine public sector organisations were directed to participate in the CNGP in 2024. This number includes 41 Tranche 1 organisations (Public Service Departments, Departmental Agencies and the Executive Branch) reporting to the CNGP for the third time, and 28 Tranche 2 organisations (Crown Agents and schools) reporting for the second time.

Total emissions from Tranches 1 and 2 were 555,377 tCO₂-e, a 20% reduction from respective base years. 

See further emission data from Tranche 1 and 2 (PDF, 488KB)

Top emission sources for Tranche 1 and 2 organisations

Thirty organisations, including state-owned enterprises and tertiary institutions, were encouraged to join the programme from financial year 2022/2023. Of these, 19 organisations submitted reports to the CNGP in 2024, some opting to report by calendar year instead of financial year. Ten Tranche 3 participants opted not to report in 2024 including KiwiRail who reported in 2023 and chose not to report in 2024.

Total emissions from Tranche 3 were 827,444 tCO2-e. This is a 20% reduction from base year. 

See further emission data from Tranche 3 (PDF, 258KB)

Top emission sources for Tranche 3 organisations

Air travel

Air travel accounted for 13% of 2024 reported emissions across all tranches. This includes any travel on a commercial plane such as for overseas diplomacy, site visits, and community engagement and consultation (organisation-controlled aircraft, such as NZDF planes, are counted separately). 

Air travel is still one of the highest emission sources for a majority of CNGP participants, and the largest emission source overall for Tranches 1 and 2 at 25% of total emissions. Across the programme, air travel emissions reduced 26% compared to base years in 2024. Although this is a smaller reduction than observed in 2023 when travel patterns were still impacted by Covid-19, it constitutes a significant reduction in air travel emissions across the public sector.  

To date, 93% of participants have implemented measures to reduce air travel emissions and 63% of participants reported they plan to implement further measures this year (e.g. improved travel data and oversight, changes to travel policy, technology to support online meetings). 

Fleet

Eleven percent of 2024 reported emissions across all tranches were from vehicle fleet. This includes light and heavy vehicles and covers all travel undertaken in CNGP participant-owned fleet vehicles. Twenty-five percent of vehicle emissions are from Police but many other organisations maintain significant vehicle fleets as part of their operations. 

Fleet emissions reduced 15% from base years, in part due to the transition to electric vehicles.  

See EV dashboard reducing government fleet emissions (New Zealand Government Procurement)

Coal boilers

Work is underway to phase out the largest and most active coal boilers. Eighteen projects are on track to be completed by end of 2025. 

As of February 2024, 145 of 149 coal boilers in schools have been replaced.  

Agriculture

Agriculture is the largest overall emission source at 40% of programme emissions. Ninety-seven percent of this is from the Tranche 3 organisation Landcorp/Pāmu, that manages nearly 360,000 ha of land around New Zealand. Agricultural emissions have dropped 19% since base year.  

Supply Chain emissions

In addition to the mandatory programme emission sources, CNGP participants are encouraged to measure, report, and set appropriate targets for their Scope 3 value chain emissions. Alternative targets are permitted, reflecting the sometimes-limited influence organisations have over these sources. In 2024, 3,620,927 tCO₂-e was reported under this category:  

1. Forty-eight percent of this was from Airways, from leased assets, investments, etc. 
2. Twenty-two percent of this was from the state schooling sector, predominantly from staff and student commuting, and purchased goods and services.
3. Fifteen percent was from Kāinga Ora, from housing construction and associated activities. 

This is an important part of the programme where emission reduction initiatives by government can influence the wider economy and support the provision of lower emission goods and services across a wide range of industries.

Energy and electricity

Six percent of 2024 reported emissions across all tranches were from electricity. This covers activities such as heating and lighting. Stationary combustion accounted for 9% of overall programme emissions with a decrease of 14.4% from respective base years. 

CNGP organisations are leading by example in the energy transition, in line with the government’s Emissions Reduction Plan and net zero 2050 goals (Target 9). The energy landscape has dynamically shifted, with MBIE forecasting a faster and earlier decline in New Zealand's natural gas supply than previously predicted, putting pressure on gas prices and security of supply. The future replacement of gas systems with efficient electric technology will result in further operational savings and enhance organisational and national resilience to gas supply constraints. Further, investment in energy efficiency and energy transition reduces agency operational costs and we are seeing CNGP agencies investment in modern energy systems enabling some of these other benefits such as on-site operational resilience. 

No material change in electricity consumption (kWh) has occurred since base year demonstrated by a 0.4% increase since respective base years. This reflects efficiency improvements given the displacement of fossil fuels. We expect to see electricity increase over coming years as electrification of buildings and fleets progress. Electricity emissions have reduced by 22% (11,778 tCO₂-e) across the programme, largely reflecting reduced carbon intensity in the New Zealand electricity grid.  

See further information on Reducing emissions in government office buildings (New Zealand Government Procurement)