Toxic Algae Warning
Find out where our greenhouse gas emissions come from and how we’re reducing them to zero by 2050.
Council’s carbon emission targets and plans
Hutt City Council has set a goal of reducing emissions to net zero by no later than 2050. The goal also applies to Council-Controlled Organisations, such as the Seaview Marina.
We've produced an action plan that sets out our intentions to reduce Council’s own emissions, albeit it also includes actions to reduce city-wide emissions, such as by improving the availability of EV charging opportunities to increase the uptake of EVs, and by making it easier to walk and cycle.
Interim Carbon Reduction and Climate Resilience Plan 2021-2031
Council is measuring its emissions, in order to report on progress. View our Hutt City Council Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report 2023-2024 here.
Following Council’s progress
We've created a Climate Change & Sustainability Committee to deal with matters related to climate change and sustainability, and to receive reports on progress against our Carbon Reduction Plan. Find out more about the committee’s work at the regular Climate Change and Sustainability committee meetings.
Council’s actions
Here are some of the things we’re doing to reduce emissions at Council:
Our facilities
We are working to reduce carbon emissions from the energy used at our facilities, largely by changing from natural gas heating to lower-carbon options. The Eastbourne Summer Pool and McKenzie Baths have already been switched from gas boilers to heat pumps, and the new Te Ngaegnae Pool is fully electric.
Council vehicles
We’re improving the efficiency of our vehicle fleet by switching to Electric Vehicles (EVs). As of December 2024, our vehicle fleet is 70% electric, and we should achieve our goal of a 100% electric vehicle fleet well before 2030.
Decarbonising contracts
We are progressively decarbonising services delivered by private contractors. For example, procurement processes include requirements for contractors to measure and report their emissions, and to reduce them in line with our carbon targets. Electrification of vehicles plays a key role in order to achieve targets. Have a look out for our fully electric kerbside collection trucks.
Urban Plus Limited (UPL)
New UPL dwellings no longer have natural gas technologies installed, and all new dwellings have to be built to the New Zealand Green Building Council Homestar 6 Rating.
New Zealand Green Building Council
New Naenae pool
The new Te Ngaengae Fitness + Pool facility has achieved a GreenStar rating of 5, and all energy will come from low-carbon electricity.
Silverstream Landfill
We have a gas collection system in place, and a power plant to generate energy from the methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, emitted from decomposing waste. We also have a supplementary flare in place to improve methane destruction efficiency. Solar PV has been installed at the landfill’s office to improve resilience, and the design and construction of a Heavy EV Charging Hub is underway, in order to electrify the landfill’s operational vehicles.