New Zealand's seasonally adjusted greenhouse gas emissions fell by 0.2 percent in the March 2026 quarter, according to Stats NZ. Industry emissions dropped 0.3 percent, driven by reduced mining activity, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of decline. GDP grew 0.8 percent over the same period, indicating a continued decoupling of economic output from emissions intensity. However, transport emissions tell a different story. Emissions from transport, postal and warehousing rose 0.9 percent, adding 15 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent. Household transport emissions also increased 0.6 percent. The data highlights a persistent challenge: while industrial sectors clean up, road transport remains a growing source of pollution in New Zealand.
