Improvements to the motor vehicle fleet are helping to reduce air pollutant emissions in New Zealand, according to a recent study.
It’s one of the findings of the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ’s latest three-yearly update about the country’s air quality.
Our air 2024 brings together recently updated Stats NZ indicator data, as well as insights from research literature.
The report shows that air pollutant levels have decreased at most monitoring sites over the last eight years.
However, some sites showed worsening air quality, while pollutant levels at sites where air quality improved were at times above levels in World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Emissions from motor vehicles (as well as aviation, shipping and rail) were lower in 2019 than in 2012 for all monitored pollutants, except sulphur dioxide.
“Air pollutants from motor vehicle exhaust emissions are reducing per kilometre as a result of vehicle emissions standards, lower-emissions vehicles and improvements in engine technology and fuel quality,” says Natasha Lewis, MfE’s deputy secretary of strategy, stewardship and performance.
However, the nation’s vehicle fleet reached its largest size to date in 2022. Annual kilometres travelled by motorists have increased over recent decades.
Road vehicles contribute significantly to different types of air pollution and were the largest source of nitrogen oxides (39%) in 2019.
The studyshows that air pollution from motor vehicles is still associated with a high number of hospitalisations, premature deaths and substantial social costs.
“Children, the elderly, pregnant people and people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease are more vulnerable to the impacts of pollution than others,” Lewis says.
