Environment hub

We run and support a range of seminars and discussion forums to share knowledge and experience. We aim to improve the quality of research and data analysis related to transport and the environment.

Previous events 

Decarbonising Transport Research Strategy: Update and information session - 22 August 2023

Te Manatū Waka is developing a research strategy to support the sector to reduce transport emissions through evidence-based decision-making. In this presentation, we provide an overview as well as an update on where things are at with the Decarbonising Transport Research Strategy project. More specifically, the presentation covers:

• the approach adopted to identify research questions and knowledge gaps;
• the prioritisation criteria and process; and
• a draft list of key research questions to outline the important gaps facing the sector.

Te Manatū Waka also wishes to test these questions and solicit feedback with the wider transport sector. In particular, we will be looking for feedback on:

• Whether the questions clear, and if not, why not? What refinements are needed to the questions? What’s missing? Could they be reasonably developed into research projects?
• Whether there is existing research substantively covering a question already
• Whether there is a burning research need that isn’t covered in the list.

Link to the presentation for the webinar.  [PDF, 1.8 MB]

For more information or to provide feedback please contact knowledgehub@transport.govt.nz. Please provide responses by 6 September, 2023.

Challenges & opportunities for reducing car dependency in our major cities

Good decision making requires best science in understanding the problem. The Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) has a target to reduce total kilometres travelled by the light vehicle fleet by 20 per cent by 2035 through improved urban form and providing better travel options, particularly in our largest cities. This event uses recent Waka Kotahi Te Puna Taiao modelling and analysis to inform light VKT reduction.

Subnational Baselining for VKT and GHG presentation [PDF, 1009 KB]

Declining Vehicle Kilometres Travelled presentation [PDF, 947 KB]

Addressing health and air pollution from transport in Aotearoa – Tuesday 23^rd August 

An overview of the Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand (HAPINZ 3.0) study with Dr Gerda Kuschel and Daisy Cadigan.  Learn about implications for managing vehicle emissions to improve quality of life for our tamariki, whānau and communities.

Reducing harmful transport emissions presentation [PDF, 691 KB]

Efficient, equitable & orderly transition to net zero transport emissions by 2050

Transitioning to net zero emissions in transport by 2050 is essentially a question of platform competition. In this webinar Dr Richard Meade lay out the nature of the challenges, explaining why platform competition cannot be assumed to deliver socially-desirable outcomes, especially over relatively short time-frames (e.g. in just 28 years to 2050). The basis of this presentation is a research-based, policy-orientated and technology-agonistic discussion document Richard prepared for Vector, Powerco and First Gas in November 2021 (document available here(external link))

Click here for Richard Meade’s presentation slides [PDF, 3.3 MB]

Hydrogen Rail – What can if offer Aotearoa?

Decarbonising heavy transport, reducing emissions intensity of fuel and increasing public transport and freight share are all important focus areas in the Governments new Emissions Reduction Plan. Rail transport is an area where these goals all converge with innovations in fuel, infrastructure and services rapidly taking place across the world.

While electric passenger rail is already in use in our largest cities, does the emerging innovation of hydrogen-powered rail have something to offer Aotearoa on the path to net-zero?

Dr Lovegrove will give us an overview of hydrogen fuel-cell technology, it’s application to both freight and passenger rail, how it is being implemented across the globe, and the wider benefits and challenges of its introduction as a low-emissions technology.

Objectives

• To act as a channel to help implement the Transport Evidence Base Strategy
• To raise awareness of relevant search, data analysis techniques and data availability across the transport sector–including international research and connections.
• To identify information or research gaps.
• To ensure research is relevant and to help with the take-up of research for policy development.
• To identify opportunities for collaboration amongst members.
• To reduce duplication and provide the opportunity to learn from, and build on others' work.
• To drive quality by providing a forum for peer review and critique.

Emissions Group

The Emissions Group is a specialist forum that is part of the Environment hub. The Group has a technical focus and brings together researchers interested in transport emissions, such as harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gases, to help information sharing and collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

We run a range of seminars and discussion sessions with the aim of sharing knowledge and experience to help drive the quality of research and data analysis relating to transport emissions.

Activities

• Seminars on current and planned research and data analysis relating to transport and the environment.
• Regular updates on relevant research and events.
• Support the annual Transport Knowledge Conference.

Hub leads and membership

The hub leads are Andrew Bell (WK) andrew.bell@nzta.govt.nz and Tracy Yandle (MoT) T.Yandle@transport.govt.nz.

The hub is open to anyone interested in sharing environment-related data, information and research. Email knowledgehub@transport.govt.nz to join.