Urban dispersal and high motorisation (Auckland) - Transport Climate Change and the City - page 265

Figure 7.6 Map of Auckland, circa 1902
Source : Encyclopedia Britannica/UIG/The Bridgeman Art Library.
motorisation rate, vehicle miles travelled, a low rate of improvement in fuel economy and a
high mode share by car.
The transport sector is also very important relative to total emissions; 43 per cent of
emissions in 2006 are associated with transport in Auckland, which is a very high level for
New Zealand and also internationally. 5 The reasons for this are in the high level of car usage
and also the relatively low prevalence of agricultural activities and high use of renewable
energy in 'stationary' activities (hydro-electric power accounts for more than 50 per cent of
electricity usage). Within the transport sector again the major share of emissions is for the
road, with car accounting for 51 per cent and road freight 31 per cent. As in all contexts,
there are also issues here with carbon budgets (the 'area under the line'). It is the total amount
of CO2 in the atmosphere that is important more than targets or snapshots in time, and this
means that the pathways taken are of crucial importance.