For the first time, the Waikato Regional Council’s three-yearly survey of greenhouse gas emissions has a breakdown for Thames-Coromandel District and other Waikato districts.

By an accident of nature Thames-Coromandel is fortunate in having a significant part of its land area covered in native forest in the DOC estate, (and exotic forest. ) These forests sequester carbon which means that Thames-Coromandel along with Taupo District are carbon neutral, whereas districts with high agricultural activities have the highest carbon footprint.

On the other hand, Thames-Coromandel has the third highest level of transport emissions in the Waikato.  This is likely due to peak holiday periods when thousands of visitors arrive by vehicle.  Thames-Coromandel District’s transport emissions are about 40% of those in Hamilton City.

This means that Thames-Coromandel District’s greatest opportunity to reduce emissions is by encouraging a quick transition to electric vehicles.

In the Waikato agriculture remains the largest contributor to the total gross emissions – a whopping  69 per cent, followed by transportation 15 per cent

Transportation emissions in the Waikato as a whole are up 32.3 per cent since the 2015-2016 inventory.

The 2018-19 survey measures stationary energy (e.g. electricity, gas, fuels), transportation (on-road fuels), waste, industry and agriculture emissions, along with forestry sequestration.

The inventory, shows the region has a wide emissions profile and identifies where best we can focus on transitioning to a low emissions economy – and create more jobs – by planting more trees, working towards a lower carbon footprint in the agricultural industry and accelerating electrified transport.

 The next step is to use the information from the inventory to develop a climate action roadmap to support Waikato Regional Council and the territorial authorities to become leaders in carbon and water management.

Some interesting facts and figures:

• Activities within Waikato region’s boundaries generated approximately 12,646,982 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (t CO₂e) between July 2018 and June 2019. When forestry is included, the total net emissions for the region are 7,116,073t CO₂
• Agriculture remains the largest contributor to the total gross emissions for Waikato (69 per cent), followed by transportation (15 per cent) and stationary energy (13 per cent).
• Forestry removed a net volume of 5,530,909t CO₂e or about 44 per cent of the total gross emissions.
• Since the 2015-16 report, total net emissions (including forestry) have increased 349,291t CO₂e (5.2 per cent) to 7,116,073t CO₂e, and total gross emissions (excluding forestry) have increased 247,439t CO₂e (0.02 per cent) to 12,646,982t CO₂
• Agriculture is the only sector to see a drop in gross emissions (-4.2 per cent).
• Transportation emissions is up 32.3 per cent and stationary energy emissions have increased 8.4 per cent due to population growth.
• Carbon removal rates by forestry have decreased by 101,852t CO₂e (-1.8 per cent).
• The net emissions per capita vary widely between the districts from -34.4 tonnes of CO₂ (carbon positive) for Taupō district to 82.8 for Ōtorohanga district.
• Thames-Coromandel district was also carbon positive due to high levels of sequestration from forestry.
• Hamilton has the lowest gross emissions (excluding forestry) per capita at 6t CO₂
• Waitomo has the highest gross emissions (excluding forestry) per capita at 109t CO₂
• Waikato district is the highest emitter of agricultural emissions (1,721,291t CO₂e), followed by Waipa (1,148,353) and Matamata-Piako (1,475,468).
• On a per capita basis, Waikato’s gross (excluding forestry) emissions are significantly higher than the national (26.7 v 16.5t CO₂e); agriculture emissions are high (18.2 v 7.9t CO₂e) while forestry sector removes more than double the national average (-11.7 v -4.9t CO₂e).
• Stationary energy, waste and IPPU emissions are below the national averages.

Read the Waikato Region Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory – July 2018 to June 2019: