Less pollution created

Seasonally adjusted industry and household greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the country decreased by 1.5 per cent and 287 kilotonnes in this year’s June quarter, reports Stats NZ.

“The fall in emissions this quarter was mainly driven by the manufacturing industry, with most other industries also recording reductions,” says Tehseen Islam, environment statistics spokesperson.

Over this quarter, industry emissions – excluding households – decreased by 1.5 per cent and 258kt. By comparison, gross domestic product (GDP) decreased 0.9 per cent during the same period. Emissions from households fell 0.6 per cent, or by 12kt, over the same timescale.

The largest decrease in emissions in the June 2025 quarter came from manufacturing, down by 3.2 per cent and 60kt. This aligns with a 3.5 per cent fall in GDP from this period over the same period.

“Seasonally adjusted figures show emissions from manufacturing are at their lowest since our series began in 2010,” adds Islam. “Their emissions are now down 41.4 per cent from their peak in December 2014.

“The fall in manufacturing emissions in the most recent quarter was led by the petroleum, chemical, polymer and rubber-product industries, which declined 41.2 per cent. These industries reduced production as a result of natural-gas shortages.”

Non-metallic mineral and metallic product manufacturing emissions, down 3.9 per cent, also contributed to the fall in manufacturing. Transport, postal and warehousing emissions climbed by 26 per cent.

For the year ending June 2025, greenhouse gases from all Kiwi industries and households fell 2.9 per cent and by 2,263kt. Total emissions reported were 76,902kt, the lowest annual total for a June year since Stats NZ’s time series began in 2010.

The most significant contributors to this decrease were the manufacturing industry, down 12.5 per cent and by 1,089kt, and agriculture, forestry and fishing, which fell by 1.6 per cent 705kt.