Work out your taxi emissions
= 477.0 kg CO2e in 2026 (Scope 3 (business travel))
Each km × 0.159 kg CO2e, the Ministry for the Environment's 2026 figure (Regular).
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Taxi emission factors in the 2026 guide
| Factor (as the Ministry names it) | Unit | kg CO2e | CO2 | CH4 | N2O |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RegularTaxi Travel › Taxi Travel | per km | 0.159 | 0.1539 | 0.001465 | 0.003629 |
| Petrol hybridTaxi Travel › Taxi Travel | per km | 0.1686 | 0.1615 | 0.002157 | 0.00495 |
| ElectricTaxi Travel › Taxi Travel | per km | 0.02035 | 0.0197 | 0.0006228 | 0.00003177 |
| Regular - dollars spentTaxi Travel › Taxi Travel | per NZ dollar spent | 0.04067 | 0.03936 | 0.0003746 | 0.0009282 |
| Petrol hybrid - dollars spentTaxi Travel › Taxi Travel | per NZ dollar spent | 0.04313 | 0.04131 | 0.0005518 | 0.001266 |
| Electric - dollars spentTaxi Travel › Taxi Travel | per NZ dollar spent | 0.005205 | 0.005038 | 0.0001593 | 0.000008126 |
CO2, CH4 and N2O are each gas's share of the total, in kg CO2e; a dash means the guide gives no figure for that gas. Every figure is from the 2026 guide; it is the only edition we hold, so there is no year-on-year column.
The Ministry's notes on these figures
- Regular: Average of vehicle types.
- Petrol hybrid: 2010-2015 vehicle (2000 - 3000cc).
- Electric: 2010-2015 vehicle (2000 - 3000cc).
- Regular - dollars spent: Average price of $3.91 per km.
- Petrol hybrid - dollars spent: Average price of $3.91 per km.
- Electric - dollars spent: Average price of $3.91 per km.
Worked example
Take staff taking 3,000 km of taxi and ride-share trips a year. 3,000 km × 0.159 kg CO2e = 477 kg CO2e, reported as Scope 3 (business travel).
How to use it
Use kilometres where you have them: most app receipts show the distance of each trip. Use the per-dollar factor only when you know the fare alone. The guide's per-dollar figures assume an average fare of $3.91 per km, so they will be off for airport trips with flat fares or for surge pricing.
Taxi and ride-share trips are Scope 3 business travel (category 6). Use the regular figure unless you know the car type.
Which rules apply in New Zealand
The Ministry's guide is voluntary guidance for organisations measuring their greenhouse gas emissions, and follows the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1. Climate reporting entities under New Zealand's climate-related disclosures regime report under the External Reporting Board's Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Standards, and can use these factors for their Scope 1, 2 and 3 figures. Businesses of any size answering a customer's or a bank's request for emissions data can use them in the same way. Cite the guide and its year next to every figure.
UK companies with sites or staff in New Zealand should use these factors for that activity and the UK government factors for UK activity. In Carbon Recycling, set a site's country to New Zealand and its electricity is reported with the Ministry's factor. See reporting overseas sites for how the rest fits together.
Where to find your own figure
Expense claims and app receipts give each trip's distance and fare. Many corporate accounts with ride-share and taxi firms export both.
Related emission factors
- Working from home (New Zealand): 0.8161 kg CO2e per employee day
- Domestic flights (New Zealand): 0.1159 kg CO2e per passenger-km
- International flights (New Zealand): 0.09043 kg CO2e per passenger-km
- All New Zealand emission factors
- New Zealand grid electricity (Ember's estimate, every year since 2000)
- UK emission factors and other countries
Source: Ministry for the Environment. 2026. Measuring emissions: A guide for organisations: 2026 emission factors (version 2). Crown copyright, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Carbon Recycling is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Ministry; the sums on this page are ours.