CO2 Emissions per Capita: New Zealand

Analysis# New Zealand CO2 Emissions per Capita New Zealand's per capita CO2 emissions reached 6.017 metric tons in 2024, down from a peak of 8.996 metric tons in 2001. The current level remains above the all-time low of 5.292 metric tons recorded in 1971, reflecting a net increase of 9.2% over the past 54 years despite recent declines. This modest overall growth masks significant volatility across the decades, with emissions rising through the 1990s before plateauing and gradually declining in the 2020s. A marked downward trend emerged from 2015 onward, when emissions stood at 7.678 metric tons. By 2024, annual emissions had fallen approximately 22% from that point, driven by improvements in energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. The acceleration of reductions from 2021 to 2024 suggests New Zealand is moving decisively toward lower per capita emissions, positioning the country on a declining trajectory heading into the next decade.