Reducing emissions

Aerial photo of Ruakaka and Bream Bay farmland, houses and beach.

Find out what we are doing as an organisation to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and what you can do as an individual to reduce your carbon footprint.

Whangārei’s carbon footprint

Whangārei’s greenhouse gas emissions for the 2022 financial year were 1,273,006 tCO2e.

This was made up of:

  • agriculture: 44%
  • transport: 32%
  • stationary energy (electricity and natural gas usage): 18%
  • waste (landfill and wastewater treatment): 4%
  • industrial processes and product use: 3%

Northland Regional Council commissioned AECOM New Zealand Limited to help create a report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the Whangārei District during the 2022 financial year.  

The report focuses on production-based community-scale greenhouse gas emissions.

Whangārei District GHG Emissions Inventory 2022 Report(PDF, 1MB)

Reducing your impact

If you’re wanting to reduce your impact on the planet, try out FutureFit.  

This free online tool helps you to quickly understand your impact based on your current lifestyle.

You’ll be provided with ideas to make everyday changes and can even challenge your friends and whānau to get involved as well.

Future Fit tool (futurefit.nz)

Cutting household waste

Reducing your household waste and food waste is one way you can reduce your emissions.

Use our helpful guides for reuse, recycling and safe disposal options for everyday products and household items.

How to cut your waste

What we're doing to reduce emissions

Our Emission Reduction Plan outlines our greenhouse gas emissions as an organisation and what we are doing to reduce them. Our reduction targets are aligned with those set by central government and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) which is considered best practice internationally.

Emissions Reduction Plan

Our Sustainability Strategy focuses on the internal operations of Council and how we can work to reduce emissions.

Sustainability Strategy

Our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan recognises the importance of looking after our environment for future generations as kaitiaki (guardians). We aim to use resources wisely and manage waste in ways that protect the environment.

Waste Management and Minimisation Plan