Auckland Council lacks the tools to consistently release emissions data

 After a call to release emissions data on a weekly basis an Auckland Council committee chair revealed the data was released every two years.

At the Environment and Climate Change Committee on July 7 Extinction Rebellion requested for more frequent release of emissions data.

The request comes as council looks to reach a 50 per cent reductions in emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Extinction Rebellion representative Dr Mairi Jay said councils Climate Action Plan was ambitious but more regular emissions data releases was an important step in lowering emissions.

“Every summer is going to be tough. A 3.5 degree increase in heat for some parts of Auckland will be very hot,” Jay said.

Jay said there would be sever impacts on health from the heat and was concerned people would suffer.

“We have nothing like 30 years. We need to get our emissions down very quickly… time is against us.”

Committee chair Richard Hills said that while air quality data was available on a monthly basis emissions data came back every two years.

“Emission are not measured the same as air quality,” Hills said.

Hills said the frequency of reporting was not ideal and there was and there was “a want for that ability.”
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Councils last greenhouse gas emissions inventory was published in 2020 and reported gross CO2 emissions of 11,396 kilotons in 2018.