Our climate change mitigation work involves reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by the land transport system.
Transport emissions are a significant contributor to New Zealand's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Most of these emissions come from the vehicles using the land transport system, but transport infrastructure also creates greenhouse gases during its lifecycle of construction, operation and maintenance, as shown in the figure below.
Reducing emissions from the land transport system will require co-ordinated action from Waka Kotahi, central and local government authorities and the private sector to reduce emissions from all sources.
Emissions from vehicle use
Emissions from the vehicles using the land transport system (sometimes called enabled emissions) are the second largest source of GHG emissions in New Zealand, so this sector is expected to make a significant contribution to national emissions reduction targets. The wide-ranging transport-specific targets and actions that are contained in the emissions reduction plan (ERP) aim to reduce emissions associated with vehicle use by
designing land use and transport networks to avoid or reduce the need for light vehicle trips altogether
shifting from fossil-fuelled vehicles to walking, cycling or public transport, and
improving transport efficiency through low emissions vehicles and fuels.
Te hau mārohi ki anamata: towards a productive, sustainable and inclusive economy: Aotearoa New Zealand's first emissions reduction plan(external link)
More information about these initiatives can be found on our website.
Transport transition
Construction emissions
Construction emissions arise from the materials (eg concrete and steel) and activities (eg transport, earthworks and equipment use) involved in the construction of transport infrastructure. These are often referred to as the emissions 'embodied' in the infrastructure.
The greatest opportunity to reduce embodied emissions lies in the integrated planning and design of transport infrastructure in an urban form that reduces travel demand and makes best use of the existing network. Where new infrastructure is required, we must build cleverly and efficiently.
The ERP does not contain any specific emission reduction targets or actions for infrastructure construction emissions. However, under the Carbon Neutral Government Programme we will be expected to measure, verify, report and reduce emissions from our construction and operational activities.
We are working towards reducing embodied emissions in our infrastructure through developing and adopting our resource efficiency and waste minimisation strategy, together with use of our sustainability rating tools for high value projects.
Sustainability rating scheme
Carbon Neutral Government Programme(external link)
Resource efficiency and waste minimisation
Maintenance and operational (M&O) emissions
M&O emissions arise from the materials and activities required to operate and maintain the infrastructure over its service life (eg resurfacing materials and activities, inspection activities, and electricity used by lighting.
Like the embodied construction emissions, M&O emissions will be measured and reported on through the Carbon Neutral Government Programme, and reduction targets will be set. We are working towards reducing our M&O emissions through our resource efficiency and waste minimisation strategy and policy.
Our policy on climate change mitigation can be found in:
We are currently updating our climate change policy and developing guidance on adaptation. This page will be updated once this information is available.
P48 Specification for resource efficiency policy for infrastructure delivery
P49 Sustainability rating scheme application during tender and delivery of capital works projects
Resource efficiency guideline for infrastructure delivery and maintenance
Economic valuation of greenhouse gas emissions [PDF, 257 KB]
Project Emissions Estimation Tool PEET)
Vehicle Emissions Prediction Model (VEPM)
Traffic Model Emissions Tool
Carbon Gauge Tool
Life cycle assessment of pavements (LCAP) tool
Research Report 695: Life cycle assessment of pavements - Development of a calculator
Research Note 008: VKT and GHG emissions baseline report – a research note
Research report 687: Improving our understanding of New Zealand's vehicle fleet greenhouse gas and harmful emissions using measured emissions data – stage 1 (2022)
Carbon emissions baselines for infrastructure projects (2022)
Research Note 004: Evaluating the greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits from land transport mode shift programmes and projects (2021)
Decarbonisation of road transport network operations in Australia and New Zealand (Austroads 2020)(external link)
Research Report 462: Lifetime liabilities of land transport using road and rail infrastructure (2011)
Research Report 391: Low-emission fuel-efficient light vehicles (2009)
Project emissions estimation tool (PEET)
The Project Emissions Estimation Tool (PEET) is a greenhouse gas emissions estimation tool that has been developed for use in the early stages of a project.
Vehicle emissions prediction model
The Vehicle Emissions Prediction Model (VEPM) has been developed by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Council to predict emissions from vehicles in the New Zealand fleet under typical road, traffic and operating conditions. The model provides estimates that are suitable for air quality assessments and regional emissions inventories.
The Traffic Model Emissions Tool applies emission rates from the Vehicle Emission Prediction Model (VEPM) to 'link and turn' (intersection) output data from a traffic model.
The Carbon Gauge Tool was designed to assist projects to estimate and understand the carbon impact of project related activities.