Words by Blyth Brentnall
In positive news for the climate, New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen every year since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
National emissions peaked in 2019 when the country produced the equivalent of 82.7m tonnes of carbon dioxide.
In 2020, the year of the pandemics and lockdowns, the national carbon footprint fell 5% to 78.5m tonnes, according to Statistics NZ.
The government wanted to keep that momentum going. Their efforts managed to reduce emissions by 9% over three years.
Last year, the country produced 75.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, the lowest level since the statisticians started collecting emissions data in 2014.
This is part of a larger pledge to cut emissions in half by 2030, something that would require them to keep at about a would require consistent annual cuts of 6% over the decade.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Women Invested to Save Earth Fund. This organization helps support underrepresented and underfunded Black, indigenous, and women of color-led organizations across the world. Find out more and support them here.
Collective Sun. They help nonprofits get outfitted with solar power capabilities. Check them out here.
Florida Bicycle Association. An organization that helps mobilize people and promote greener living and safer biking. Find out more.
