Climate actions and targets

Actions and targets for the main five sources of emissions​

Buildings

2030

• All new residential and commercial buildings to operate at net zero emissions.
• Retrofit 50 per cent of existing residential and commercial buildings to a high standard of energy efficiency.
• Replace 75 per cent of gas heaters in existing residential and commercial buildings with electric heat pumps.
• Replace 50 per cent of gas water heaters in existing residential and commercial buildings with electric heat pump water heaters.
• 40 per cent of new dwellings are in transit-oriented developments.

2050

• All new residential and commercial buildings to operate at net zero emissions.
• Retrofit 100 per cent of existing residential and commercial buildings to a high standard of energy efficiency.
• Replace 100 per cent of gas heaters in existing residential and commercial buildings with electric heat pumps.
• Replace 100 per cent of gas water heaters in existing residential and commercial buildings with electric heat pump water heaters.
• 65 per cent of new dwellings are in transit-oriented developments.

Energy

2030

• 94 per cent of grid electricity is renewable – all coal and half of gas-fired power generation replaced with renewable electricity generation.
• 20 per cent of residential and commercial buildings installed with solar PV.
• 22 per cent of process heat switched from gas to electricity.
• 42 per cent reduction in process heat emissions because of waste heat recovery, high temperature heat pumps, best practice technology and switching from gas to biofuels.

2050

• 100 per cent of grid electricity is renewable.
• 50 per cent of residential and commercial buildings installed with solar PV.
• 50 per cent of process heat switched from gas to electricity.
• 50 per cent reduction in process heat emissions as a result of waste heat recovery, high temperature heat pumps, best practice technology and switching from gas to biofuels.

Transport

2030

• Vehicle kilometres travelled by private vehicles reduced by 12 per cent as a result of avoided motorised vehicle travel, through actions such as remote working and reduced trip lengths.
• Public transport mode share by distance increased from 7.8 per cent to 24.5 per cent.
• Cycling mode share by distance increased from 0.9 per cent to seven per cent.
• Walking mode share by distance increased from 4.1 per cent to six per cent.
• 100 per cent of Auckland’s bus fleet to be zero emission.
• 40 per cent of light passenger and commercial vehicles to be electric or zero emission.
• 18 per cent increase in fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine light vehicle fleet.
• 8 per cent of road freight to shift to rail.
• 40 per cent of road freight to be electric or zero emission.
• 15 per cent increase in fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine freight vehicle fleet.

2050

• Vehicle kilometres travelled by private vehicles reduced by 12 per cent as a result of avoided motorised vehicle travel, through actions such as remote working and reduced trip lengths.
• Public transport mode share to increase to 35 per cent.
• Cycling mode share to increase to seven per cent.
• Walking mode share to increase to six per cent.
• 100 per cent of Auckland’s bus fleet to be zero emission.
• 80 per cent of passenger and light commercial vehicles to be electric or zero emission.
• 25 per cent increase in fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine light vehicle fleet.
• 20 per cent of road freight to shift to rail.
• 80 per cent of road freight to be electric or zero emission.
• 25 per cent increase in the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine freight vehicle fleet.

Waste

2030

• Food waste reduced by 30 per cent and 30 per cent of the remaining waste diverted to anaerobic digestion and composting.
• Paper/cardboard waste reduced by 30 per cent and 30 per cent of the remaining waste recycled.
• Plastic waste reduced by 30 per cent and 30 per cent of the remaining waste recycled.
• Wood waste reduced by 30 per cent and 30 per cent of the remaining waste incinerated to produce energy.
• 50 per cent of electricity currently imported by wastewater treatment plants is met by internal generation.

2050

• Food waste reduced by 50 per cent and 100 per cent of the remaining waste diverted to anaerobic digestion and composting.
• Paper/cardboard waste reduced by 50 per cent and 100 per cent of the remaining waste recycled.
• Plastic waste reduced by 50 per cent and 100 per cent of the remaining waste recycled.
• Wood waste reduced by 50 per cent and 100 per cent of the remaining waste incinerated to produce energy.
• 100 per cent of electricity currently imported by wastewater treatment plants is met by internal generation.

Industrial processes and product use

2030

• 23 per cent reduction in GHG emissions from industrial processes because of efficiency gains, innovation and introducing biochar into the steel making process.

2050

• 82 per cent reduction in GHG emissions from industrial processes because of efficiency gains, innovation and the use of hydrogen and biochar in the steel making process.

Agriculture, forestry, and land use

2030

• 10 per cent reduction in methane emissions from livestock.
• Plant 80 per cent of 19,350 hectares of new forest (15,480 hectares).
• 30 per cent reduction in GHG emissions sources on land, e.g. from fertiliser use and liming.

2050

• 47 per cent reduction in methane emissions from livestock.
• Plant 100 per cent of 19,350 hectares of new forest.
• 80 per cent reduction in GHG emissions sources on land, e.g. from fertiliser use and liming.

The urgent need to move onto a decarbonisation pathway

The modelled decarbonisation pathway starts from 2016 as, at the time of modelling, the latest annual GHG inventory data was to 2016.

The modelled decarbonisation pathway shows emissions holding steady from 2016 to 2020 and then decreasing rapidly. However, provisional data considered after the modelling was completed suggests that annual emissions may have increased above the values modelled for 2017 – 2019.

As a result, a steeper decarbonisation pathway may be needed than the one outlined by the modelled decarbonisation pathway to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.

Auckland’s historical annual emissions, business as usual projection and modelled decarbonisation pathway:

Delivering a decarbonisation pathway in line with the modelled pathway, will require transformative and committed action across sectors and by a range of diverse stakeholders including Auckland Council, central government, businesses, and individuals.

Reducing GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 is not plausible, unless bold and ambitions climate action is taken.

Auckland Council cannot deliver the required reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on its own, but has an important role to lead and support emissions reductions in Auckland.

Find out more about Auckland's Climate Plan modelled climate actions and targets: