The carbon footprint of households, which reflects the emissions embodied in their consumption of goods and services and in their lifestyle choices, decreased 3.8 percent (1,519 kilotonnes) during 2021, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Households are the largest component of New Zealand's total carbon footprint (consumption-based emissions). The decrease in household carbon footprint in 2021 contributed to New Zealand's total carbon footprint remaining 4.5 percent below pre-COVID levels at 57,683 kilotonnes.
"The household carbon footprint remains down largely due to transport, which in 2021 was 22 percent or 3,369 kilotonnes below the pre-COVID 2019 level. Despite this decrease, transport is still the largest contributor to household carbon footprint at 31 percent," environmental-economic accounts manager Stephen Oakley said.
Household transport emissions can be broken down into indirect and direct emissions.
Indirect transport emissions are associated with the extraction, refining, and transportation of fuel and use of other forms of transport such as public transport and commercial air travel. In 2021, indirect emissions were down a further 2.0 percent from a time-series low in 2020 as pandemic border restrictions continued to reduce the emissions associated with international flights.
| Year ended December | Direct | Indirect |
| 2007 | 7364 | 7158 |
| 2008 | 7099 | 6629 |
| 2009 | 7066 | 6009 |
| 2010 | 7149 | 6288 |
| 2011 | 7143 | 6541 |
| 2012 | 7076 | 6348 |
| 2013 | 7048 | 6163 |
| 2014 | 7185 | 6403 |
| 2015 | 7546 | 6909 |
| 2016 | 7752 | 7049 |
| 2017 | 8054 | 7261 |
| 2018 | 7993 | 7462 |
| 2019 | 7997 | 7248 |
| 2020 | 7414 | 4184 |
| 2021 | 7776 | 4101 |
Direct transport emissions are associated with the use of private vehicles. Emissions from households' use of private vehicles increased 4.9 percent as domestic travel increased in 2021 from a dip in 2020.
"Of the emissions resulting from New Zealand households' use of personal vehicles, non-tourism emissions, associated with short everyday trips, were down in 2021, likely due to people continuing to work from home, while domestic tourism emissions increased," Oakley said.
| Year | Tourism | Non-tourism |
| 2007 | 1329 | 6035 |
| 2008 | 1317 | 5782 |
| 2009 | 1601 | 5465 |
| 2010 | 1468 | 5681 |
| 2011 | 1457 | 5686 |
| 2012 | 1607 | 5469 |
| 2013 | 1471 | 5577 |
| 2014 | 1540 | 5645 |
| 2015 | 1697 | 5849 |
| 2016 | 1744 | 6008 |
| 2017 | 1732 | 6322 |
| 2018 | 1441 | 6552 |
| 2019 | 1348 | 6649 |
| 2020 | 1387 | 6027 |
| 2021 | 1728 | 6048 |
"Overall, COVID-era travel restrictions changed the composition of household transport use, resulting in fewer international flights, and more domestic tourism by private vehicles, therefore lowering emissions," Oakley said.
More timely emissions data that captures the post-pandemic period, available in the Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): March and June 2023 quarters release, showed emissions from the transport, postal, and warehousing industry, which includes emissions from resident airlines, have increased in recent quarters. Additionally, recent International trade: September 2023 quarter data shows air transport returning to pre-COVID levels in 2022.
"These releases indicate that emissions from international flights, and therefore New Zealand's household carbon footprint, may soon return to near pre-COVID levels," Oakley said.
Today's consumption-based emissions release also provides information on the emissions associated with trade and other final uses within the economy such as government expenditure and investment in physical assets. More information on New Zealand's carbon footprint is available in Greenhouse gas emissions (consumption-based): Year ended 2021 (provisional).
