New Zealand’s Wellington needs to reduce emissions by over half within twenty years to acquire a net zero emission by 2050. This outstanding data means every car trip, every light on, and every other activity which possibly emits emission every day, are reduced in half or are dispensed altogether.
On Thursday, September 23, 2021, the city council of Wellington has decided to make it a goal to minimize emissions by 57 percent of 2020’s statistical numbers by the time year 2030 approaches. This data is equivalent to 597,571 tonnes of CO2.
Wellington’s exact greenhouse gas emissions rate dropped to 7 percent within 2001 and 2020. Such a situation was the case in spite of a boost in the growth in economy and population. However, without any statistical target for 2030, Wellington would fail in achieving its goal of restricting global warming spur to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The total gross emissions of Wellington for the previous year, up until June 30, 2020, were 1,049,016 tonnes of CO 2 or its equivalent number of emissions. Such emissions have mostly originated from road transportation, electric and gas usage in homes, office, and industry spaces.
Wellington previously targeted minimizing carbon emissions by 43 percent by the time it’s 2030, and 68 percent by 2040. Wellington’s new emission targets were derived from data that One Planet City Challenge has suggested.
Net emissions include carbon accumulation acquired from forests. Gross reductions for this instance were at 8 percent. However, a boost in tree harvesting activities were observed.
Residents of Wellington have been the New Zealanders who consume public transportation services the most, nationwide. For this reason, projects such as, “Let’s Get Wellington Moving” and a brand-new 147-kilometer cycling network operating all over Wellington have contributed in minimizing amount of emissions in the public transportation industry.
In 2019, the Wellington council announced a climate and ecological emergency plan. This plan was approved by the Te Atakura First to Zero blueprint. Initially setting the achievement of emission reduction goal by 2030 enables the Wellington Council to be compliant with the Race to Zero pledge. This pledge is a global advocacy aimed at unifying cities, businesses, and non-governmental organizations to put in an initiative to minimize emissions into half by 2030.
According to the aforementioned pledge’s website, the Wellington council has announced its intention to come up with a minimum of one inclusive and equitable climate action.
Hutt city council likewise pledged to join the Race to Climate campaign on Thursday, September 23. Auckland and Hutt are the two cities from New Zealand which have joined the Race to Climate group.
