Emissions Reductions
The Ministry of Justice is committed to reducing our impact on the climate.
The Ministry's Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) details how we will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions now and in the coming years.
Read the Ministry's full Emissions Reduction Plan ERP [PDF, 973 KB]
Our emissions
Greenhouse gases can be emitted into the atmosphere by most of our activities. Here is where our Ministry’s emissions come from:
Our progress
As a big organisation, the actions the Ministry takes to reduce our overall emissions matter.
The increase between 2021/22 and 2022/23 was mostly due to operational travel resuming close to pre-COVID-19 levels.
The reductions in 2023/24 come from several key sources. Electricity emissions have significantly reduced due to the electricity grid being cleaner following high rainfall and increased hydro power. Air travel emissions, both international and domestic, reduced because of reduced travel budgets. LPG emissions dropped by 33% due to optimisation at one of our sites.
This graph shows the Ministry’s annual emissions, from 2021 to 2024, alongside our 2025 and 2030 reduction targets. It also shows the trajectory of reductions required – what we will need to do to meet these targets.
Key reduction areas
Two areas are essential to meeting our emissions reduction targets. These are:
- making our buildings more energy efficient;
- keeping non-essential travel low.
We have around 100 buildings, including courthouses, across 58 towns and cities. Recent energy audits revealed practical ways we can conserve energy in our buildings, and we have started making these changes.
Some of our heating and lighting systems are up for replacement. This is an opportunity to invest in low-emission upgrades that can also reduce our energy bills.
Would you like to know more? The Emissions Reduction Plan [PDF, 973 KB] details initiatives that will help reduce emissions in each area.