Emissions Reduction Plan 2026–30

Through Vision Kāpiti and our engagement on the Emissions Reduction Strategy last year, we know that climate change is an important concern for many people in the Kāpiti Coast district.

Many people and businesses are already taking action to reduce emissions by shifting to low emissions transport options, electrifying their homes and businesses, and minimising waste. These shifts are bringing a range of benefits, including saving money and reducing dependence on imported petrol and diesel.

Supporting households and businesses to build a more prosperous, healthier and low carbon Kāpiti is one of the Council’s top priorities. Our aspirational goal is a net zero Kāpiti by 2040. In 2025, the Council published our Emissions Reduction Strategy which sets out how we can work together to reduce emissions in ways that benefit everyone living and working in Kāpiti.

We’re now seeking feedback on our draft Emissions Reduction Plan 2026-30, which sets out what the Council intends to do over the next three to four years to deliver on the strategy.

Benefits of reducing emissions

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions means playing our part to lessen the impacts of a changing climate, and it also comes with many other benefits including:

• cost savings for households, businesses and the Council
• reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels
• increased energy security
• better health outcomes
• more efficient and productive ways to do business
• more compact and better-connected communities.

We're building on climate action already underway

Emissions from the Kāpiti Coast district reduced by 6% between 2018/19 and 2023/24, even as the Kāpiti population increased over this period.

The Council has been taking climate action for a long time. We started reporting and reducing our operational emissions 15 years ago – one of the first councils in New Zealand to do so. Since then, the Council’s emissions have reduced by 69%.

To achieve our aspirational goal of a net zero Kāpiti by 2040, everyone has a role to play - the best outcomes happen when we work together.

About this plan

The draft Emissions Reduction Plan 2026-30 sets out what the Council is doing to:

• reduce emissions from Council’s operations
• support households and businesses to reduce emissions across Kāpiti

The plan is guided by the pathways, principles, partnership model set out in the Emissions Reduction Strategy. It has been informed by what we’ve heard through Vision Kāpiti, our 2022 Climate Survey, and engagement on the Emissions Reduction Strategy.

We’re releasing this Emissions Reduction Plan in 2026, a year ahead of the Council’s next Long-term Plan, so that people and businesses can:

• understand what the Council is currently doing to reduce emissions and enable wider action
• provide ideas to unlock further emission reductions, including proposals that could be considered for funding in the Council’s next Long-term Plan.

Read the full draft Emissions Reduction Plan 2026-30.

All feedback will be carefully considered as we finalise the plan in June. The final Emissions Reduction Plan is expected to be tabled at Council’s Environment and Communities Committee in July or August.

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