Marque sets ‘lofty’ emissions target
Toyota New Zealand has announced ambitious plans to cut its total carbon emissions by a minimum of 46 per cent by 2030, when compared with 2019 levels.
It says the “science-aligned emissions target” includes the lifetime tailpipe emissions from all new and used vehicles sold by the company each year and is aligned with the UN Paris Agreement’s 1.5C pathway.
Toyota NZ revealed details of its goal in the launch of its annual Sustainability Report. It says it is the first automotive company in the country to include lifecycle emissions from vehicles sold in its targets, which account for 86 per cent of the marque’s annual direct and indirect emissions.
Neeraj Lala, chief executive officer, says it needs to set ambitious goals as part of its response to climate change, contributing to the company’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon by 2050.
“We are all in this together. Our responsibility as a Kiwi brand and a market leader is to reduce not only our own emissions, but also help our supply and value chains, and customers to make a positive contribution,” says Neeraj.
“Our greatest challenge is reaching our net-zero carbon goals while maintaining mobility for all — where no Kiwi is left behind by providing affordable, accessible, and safe mobility for all.”
Toyota NZ says that 67 per cent of its passenger vehicles will have an electrified option by the end of the year and a further 15 all-electric battery models are in the pipeline for production by 2025.
“A 46 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 is a lofty target and represents a major step forward for Toyota New Zealand on our path towards net zero carbon by 2050. There are challenges ahead for our business, but we're also excited by the possibilities this presents to innovate,” adds Lala, pictured.
In the year to March 31, 2022, the company reported total emissions of 1,553,378 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), with 1,310,799 tCO2e of those resulting from the full lifetime emissions of 36,342 new and used vehicles sold during the period.
Its annual Sustainability Report sets out the reporting and goal setting of its emissions reduction targets.
The report focuses on outcomes related to the three pathways of Toyota’s Let’s Go Places brand vision – environmental sustainability, mobility for all, and community social impact.
