The Council’s emission reduction goals
The Dunedin City Council's (DCC) goal is to reduce all of its emissions by 46.2% by 2029/30 in comparison to the baseline year of 2018/19, and to achieve net zero emissions no later than 2050.
This goal is a science-aligned target that aligns the organisation with global efforts to limit warming to no more than 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
In 2024/25, the DCC's emissions had reduced by 30.7% in comparison to the baseline year of 2018/19.
The DCC's emissions and trends
In 2024/25, the DCC generated gross emissions of 59,896 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e).
Modelling suggests that with the implementation of all projects included in the Emissions Management and Reduction Plan, the DCC will reduce emissions by 45% by 2029/30. This falls slightly short of achieving the organisational target. Work is underway to identify further actions that could be taken to bridge the shortfall.
-
Graph data
EMRP Baseline 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2025 Modelled path (all EMRP actions) 86,457.66 61,559.28 58,176.24 59,896.29 57,833.92 55,783.69 53,935.96 52,454.00 47,647.34 Reduction needed to meet -46.2% target 59,896.29 58,652.09 57,407.88 53,776.66 50,145.44 46,514.22 Actual emissions 86,457.66 61,559 58,176.24 59,896.29 2024 Modelled path 0.00 0.00 58,176.24 58755.69 58528.55 58716.18 57325.11 56007.5 54938.76 Green Island landfill 51210.49 30595.59 25267.44 25518.96 24759.48 24000 22870.42 21966.76 18352.1 Closed Landfills 9684.28 8146.97 7720.35 7292.85 6922.2 6567.803 6236.238 5925.606 5634.209 Wastewater Treatment Plants 9884.02 8311.95 10303.13 9399.469 9399.469 9399.469 9399.469 9399.469 9358.41 Major Suppliers 5177.47 5513.53 5098.58 5205.82 5009.563 4842.745 4700.949 4459.896 3791.981 Electricity and Biomass 4011.956 2584.5 2952.173 3320.288 2963.181 2963.181 2747.2 2747.2 2747.2 Composting 0 0 0 3012.42 3012.42 3012.42 3271.476 3478.721 3889.6 Stationary LPG and Diesel 2661.53 3088.28 3305.71 2960.67 2713.878 2009.747 1782.844 1601.321 1190.958 Water Treatment Chemicals 2075.36 2127.54 2195.53 1872.62 1872.62 1872.62 1872.62 1872.62 1872.62 Business Travel 1350.75 1068.09 1063.88 1149.569 1060.495 997.2713 938.4436 888.1987 698.1031 Refrigerants and Fertiliser 401.8 122.83 269.4513 163.6234 120.6088 118.432 116.2988 114.2082 112.1594 Reduction needed to meet -46.2% target 59,896.29 58,652.09 57,407.88 53,776.66 50,145.44 46,514.22
Where do the DCC's emissions come from?
The DCC’s key emissions sources are waste to landfill, wastewater treatment processes, emissions from contracted works, stationary energy use, chemical use, staff travel to and from work, fleet fuel usage, business travel, fertilisers and refrigerants.
-
Graph data
Source tCO2e Staff working from home 1 Hotel stays, taxis, rental cars 4 Fertiliser 14 Private car use 23 Sludge disposed at private landfill 41 Petrol 81 Air travel 106 Refrigerant usage 149 Biomass 163 Electricity T&D losses 223 Diesel 355 Staff travel to work 579 Stationary diesel 593 Water treatment chemicals 1,873 Stationary LPG 2,368 Electricity (excl. T&D losses) 2,934 Composting 3,012 Major suppliers 5,206 Closed landfill emissions 7,293 Wastewater Treatment Plants (Biological Processes) 9,358 Waste to landfill 25,519
Find out more about the DCC’s plans on reducing and managing its emissions here: https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/policies,-plans-and-strategies/plans/emissions-management-and-reduction-plan
Find out more about the DCC’s current carbon footprint here: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Management Report.