Carbon News
  • Members
    • Login
      Forgot Password?
    • Not a member? Subscribe
    • Forgot Password
      Back to Login
    • Not a member? Subscribe
  • Home
  • New Zealand
    • Politics
    • Energy
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon emissions
    • Transport
    • Forestry
    • Business
  • Markets
    • Analysis
    • NZ carbon price
  • International
    • Australia
    • United States
    • China
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Asia
    • Pacific
    • Antarctic/Arctic
    • Africa
    • South America
    • United Nations
  • News Direct
    • Media releases
    • Climate calendar
  • About Carbon News
    • Contact us
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Service
    • Policies

Wellington region's new low carbon transport strategy

26 Jun 2024


Media release | A new strategy released by Greater Wellington sets out a pathway to a low-carbon, resilient future, and the urgent action required to get there.

The Wellington Regional Transport Emissions Reduction Pathway, a collaborative initiative between the nine councils of the region, provides a long-term strategic approach to transforming our transport system, and ultimately the way we design our towns and cities.

 

Greater Wellington regional councillor and chair of the Regional Transport Committee Adrienne Staples says road transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

 

“Road transport is responsible for 39 percent of our total national carbon dioxide emissions,” says Cr Staples.

 

“If we are going to meet the national goal of net zero emissions by 2050, we urgently need to tackle transport emissions. As councils of the region, we’re not shying away from this responsibility – to our community, to the planet, and to future generations – but we all have a part to play.”

 

The Pathway has two ambitious goals: to reduce the amount of passenger vehicle kilometres per person by 25% by 2035, and to reduce all road transport-generated carbon emissions by 35% by 2030.

 

A major focus of the Pathway is increased transport choice through reliable public transport and active travel, reducing our dependence on private vehicles.  

 

“Doing this right means we don’t just reduce emissions; these actions will also lead to cleaner air, less congested and safer roads, and all at a lower cost because we will be building more mixed-use, compact communities in the places where public and active transport infrastructure already exists,” Staples says.

 

A recently commissioned study by Greater Wellington found that higher density development near city and town centres leads to lower per-dwelling infrastructure costs, especially for transport.

 

But new, more compact and sustainable urban form cannot happen overnight – the Pathway shows what actions need to be taken in the shorter term to create more choice and resilience in our transport system, and reduce emissions as well as our reliance on fossil fuels.

 

Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett describes the Pathway as a “bold strategy based on rigorous modelling and sound evidence”.   

 

“The analysis we have done for this Pathway points to a need for bold and urgent action to safeguard a climate-resilient future.

“Now, we need our community and partners to support the vision and hold us all accountable to achieve it,” says Cr Pannett.   

 

“The headwinds may be strong at the moment, but this highlights all the more the need for a clear vision and pathway for action, and this strategy delivers on this,” adds Cr Staples.

 

To view the pathway, visit: https://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Documents/2024/06/WTERP-2024.pdf

print this story


More >
Media releases
More >

New look for New Zealand’s bioeconomy research

Wed 3 Sep 2025

Media release | The Bioeconomy Science Institute, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest research organisation, launched its new look.

Jonathan Young, Ara Ake Head of Industry and Government Engagement

Conference to tackle energy hardship and build resilience returns for third year

Tue 2 Sep 2025

Media release - Ara Ake | The Energy Resilience and Affordability Conference will return on 8-9 October 2025 at the Harbourside Function Centre, Wellington, bringing together leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy, community and research sectors.

Tasman flood waste recovery receives $2M boost

Mon 1 Sep 2025

Media release - New Zealand Government | The Government has granted Tasman District Council up to $2 million to support the region’s recovery from the severe flooding this winter, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.

Haukapuanui Vercoe at the 2025 Esri User Conference in San Diego, US.

Marae resilience research takes global stage

Fri 29 Aug 2025

Media release | University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau | Marae are central hubs for whānau, hapū, and iwi across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Contact and bp charge partner to offer savings on EV charging

28 Aug 2025

Media release | Contact Energy (Contact) and bp charge have partnered to introduce a new customer offer to make electric vehicle (EV) charging easier for Kiwi drivers.

Rising cost of insurance prompts call for action on affordability and climate risks

27 Aug 2025

Media release | Consumer NZ releases a sobering report that highlights how house insurance is becoming increasingly out of reach for New Zealanders.

East Coast schools receive funding as part of pool solar project

26 Aug 2025

Media release: Trust Tairāwhiti | Four schools along the East Coast have been equipped with solar panels, battery storage, and pool heating systems as part of a $3.5m school pool heating and resilience project.

Verra and S&P advance carbon market integration with next-generation registry

26 Aug 2025

Media release - Verra | World’s largest GHG standards body collaborates with the world’s leading commodities information and registry infrastructure provider.

PhD student William Sheard says mining e-waste is more sustainable than mining the earth for metals.

The quest to turn e-waste into metals

26 Aug 2025

Media release – University of Auckland | William Sheard is on a quest to turn electronic waste into metals.

Latest data confirms rail as lower carbon option for moving freight

25 Aug 2025

Media release | KiwiRail customers who chose to move their goods on rail collectively saved 220,254 tonnes of CO2e emissions in the last financial year (ending June 2025).

Carbon News

Subscriptions, Advertising & General

[email protected]

Editorial

[email protected]

We welcome comments, news tips and suggestions - please also use this address to submit all media releases for News Direct).

Useful Links
Home About Carbon News Contact us Advertising Subscribe Service Policies
New Zealand
Politics Energy Agriculture Carbon emissions Transport Forestry Business
International
Australia United States China Europe United Kingdom Canada Asia Pacific Antarctic/Arctic Africa South America United Nations
Home
Markets
Analysis NZ carbon price
News Direct
Media releases Climate calendar

© 2008-2025 Carbon News. All Rights Reserved. • Your IP Address: 216.73.216.185 • User account: Sign In

Please wait...
Audit log: