Much more would need to be done, and quickly, it is stated in a draft zero-carbon plan to be discussed by the Dunedin City Council next week.
Carbon neutrality by 2030 was "achievable if the city works together with courage and urgency" and "possible if organisations, businesses and communities in Ōtepoti Dunedin collectively pull all the available levers as hard as possible to achieve the scale of change required", modelling showed.
Significant change would be needed across sectors that ranged from transport to home heating and management of waste, the report said.
To hit the target, a reduction of 40% in greenhouse emissions would be needed, excluding biogenic methane.
To balance out emissions still being produced, sequestration would need to be increased by 64% above 2018-19 levels, the report said.
Sequestration refers to the absorption of carbon dioxide through plants, but the focus of the plan is on reducing gross emissions.
The report identified a series of "key shifts" that would need to happen in the city for it to achieve its zero-carbon goals.
Among them are diverting more waste to keep it out of landfills, developing cycling and walking networks and public transport services, shifting freight to low-emission modes of transport, facilitating greater uptake of electric vehicles and improving energy efficiency in buildings.
The report pointed out many businesses, schools and public sector organisations in Dunedin still relied on fossil fuels for heating.
The council itself used significant amounts of LPG to heat buildings and pool facilities and to power the crematorium.
"Diesel is used at the Tahuna wastewater treatment plant and other wastewater facilities, and in pumps associated with the Three Waters network."
The council would continue to phase out use of fossil fuels.
One prominent theme in the report was fostering local connection.
Possible areas of action related to this ranged from encouraging local recreation to community-led recycling efforts.
There was also commentary about future urban form.
"The closer people live to their work or education and the services they need in their daily lives, the shorter their commute is likely to be.
"To achieve and maintain emissions reduction goals, Ōtepoti Dunedin needs more mixed-use urban development at medium and high densities close to centres."
