New Zealand has sustainability – our path to carbon neutrality
Without a commitment to greater sustainability in our resource use and way of life, we risk not only damaging our own environment, but also exposing our economy to significant risk.
The government believes New Zealand can become the world's first truly sustainable nation.
A truly sustainable New Zealand is a New Zealand that looks after its environment as well as its economy, the social well-being of its people and its culture, and its national identity. It will involve a transformed economy where people are prosperous, but not at the expense of the planet.
This publication has outlined that the government has an active and comprehensive plan in place for tackling climate change – a plan that involves individuals, households, businesses and the community all playing their part.
To guide our progress the government has adopted the following targets for New Zealand:
These targets signal the direction of travel. They are challenging but achievable. The government’s current policy settings are moving us in the right direction. Ongoing initiatives will be necessary to ensure momentum is maintained.
Together, through business and community efforts alongside the government’s active programme, we must leverage our expertise to shift New Zealand to achieving these targets.
“ Why shouldn’t New Zealand aim to be the first country which is truly sustainable – not by sacrificing our living standards, but by being smart and determined? I want New Zealand to be in the vanguard of making it happen – for our own sakes, and for the sake of our planet. I want sustainability to be central to New Zealand’s unique national identity.”
– Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister
The government has signalled its aspiration for New Zealand to be carbon neutral over time. Achieving the sector targets set out here will move New Zealand strongly in this direction. In particular, it will allow us to be effectively:
-
carbon neutral in the electricity sector by 2025
-
carbon neutral in the stationary energy sector by 2030
-
carbon neutral in the transport sector by 2040
-
carbon neutral in the total energy sector by 2040.
