Less natural gas use for electricity generation drives NZ emissions down 0.5%

Less natural gas use for electricity generation drives NZ emissions down 0.5%
While New Zealand reduced its natural gas use overall in the December 2023 quarter, household emissions rose. (Image: NZ Herald)
Staff reporters
New Zealand reduced its emissions by 0.5% or 105 kilotonnes in the December 2023 quarter.A reduction in the use of natural gas to generate electricity drove the fall, according to Statistics NZ environmental-economic accounts manager Stephen Oakley.Overall industry emissions were down 1.1%, as household emissions increased 3.2%.The seasonally adjusted numbers from Statistics NZ show that electricity, gas, water and waste services industry emissions decreased 18.4% (356 kt) in the quarter.This reduction followed a 39.9% increase in the September...