Three petrol companies account for more than half of New Zealand’s climate pollution – not including agriculture.<\/p>\n
Z Energy, BP and Mobil’s combined greenhouse gas emissions have barely shifted since last year, even though this year’s data included the beginning of the fuel crisis sparked by conflict in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Overall, companies reported 31.6 million tonnes of carbon-equivalent emissions – a decrease of just under 1 million tonnes (3 percent).<\/p>\n
The three petrol companies accounted for 16.2m tonnes of that.<\/p>\n
Fossil fuel producers and steel and aluminium companies rounded out the top 10, with little change from last year.<\/p>\n
The data, which is published annually by the Environmental Protection Authority, covers the year to 30 June 2026, and includes companies that are part of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).<\/p>\n
The EPA data notably excludes some of New Zealand’s largest emitters, including Fonterra, after the government ended reporting requirements for agriculture in 2024.<\/p>\n
As a result, it now accounts for less than half of the country’s actual emissions, which the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory measured at 75.8m tonnes in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite that, it remains the only public information available where many companies’ emissions can be directly compared.<\/p>\n Since agriculture was excluded, Z Energy has topped the list for the last two years, reporting emissions of 7.2m tonnes in the most recent year, a drop of five percent.<\/p>\n Its most recent corporate climate statement<\/a> shows the company’s overall emissions are significantly higher than what it has to report to the EPA, with 12m tonnes recorded in the 2025 calendar year.<\/p>\n Z has managed to halve its operational emissions – what it emits in the course of running its business – since 2019, with most of that change happening in 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n However, the carbon dioxide from the fuel it sells, which accounts for the vast majority of its emissions – has stayed static.<\/p>\n Data no longer includes country’s top emitter<\/p>\n Prior to last year, agriculture companies regularly made the top 10 emitters, with Fonterra topping the list every year with reported emissions that were nearly double the next-largest emitter.<\/p>\n The company still voluntarily discloses its greenhouse gas emissions, and a spokesperson said its latest data would included in the company’s annual report next month.<\/p>\n