Panorama
 
 
 
 
 

CARBON NEUTRAL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMME UPDATE

Environmental Panorama
International
April of 2008


4 April, 2008 - Agencies in the core public service today released their carbon emissions inventories and carbon reduction plans as the first step in New Zealand's internationally ground-breaking Carbon Neutral Public Service programme, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard announced today.

"Responsibility for developing a more sustainable nation needs to be shared by everyone. That is why the Labour-led government, through its innovative Carbon Neutral Public Service programme, is leading by example – showing how emissions can be measured and the sorts of reduction plans or offset plans that businesses and other organisations can put in place to reduce their own carbon emissions," Trevor Mallard said.

The aim of the programme is for the six lead agencies (Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Health, The Treasury, Inland Revenue, and the Ministry of Economic Development) to be carbon neutral by 2012 with the other 28 agencies being on the path to carbon neutrality by 2012.

"The first step in this innovative Carbon Neutral Public Service programme has been to calculate each department's emissions inventory – and agencies are releasing these emissions inventories and their carbon reduction plans today.

"This is a huge achievement to have calculated the carbon footprint of the 34 agencies in core public service, equivalent to 159,000 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2006/07. We are not expecting carbon neutrality overnight – this inventory provides an excellent baseline from which to track and manage emissions and secure changes in behaviour as we build a pathway to long-term sustainability. Agencies will also be required to report on their emissions and reduction plans annually from now on.

"The 34 core government agencies have over 300 planned activities between them to reduce their emissions. It’s the many small actions that together achieve a big step towards achieving carbon neutrality," said Trevor Mallard.

Having recorded their carbon emissions, most of the 34 core government agencies have already finalised or are close to finalising their plans to reduce them. Reduction planning involves implementing a range of activities from installing waste recycling systems and buying energy-efficient vehicles to using recycled paper in photocopiers, and educating staff about sustainable practices.

For example, the Department of Conservation plans to reduce its emissions from energy use by replacing diesel generators at remote sites with renewable energy, such as wind and solar power. And The Treasury is working on more energy-efficient travel practices and computer equipment, and making greater use of videoconferencing for meetings.
Among its planned reduction activities, Inland Revenue is upgrading to new generation energy-efficient lighting and educating its drivers about maximising fuel efficiency.

To achieve carbon neutrality, the emissions that remain following reduction activities will be offset by investment in New Zealand-based offset projects, such as indigenous forest regeneration.

More information on the Carbon Neutral Public Service programme is at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainability/carbon-neutrality.html.

Background: Carbon Neutral Public Service programme

The Carbon Neutral Public Service is coordinated and administered by the Ministry for the Environment. It is part of the government's sustainability package of six initiatives. The other initiatives are household sustainability, waste minimisation and management, enhanced eco-verification, enhanced sustainable procurement and business partnerships for sustainability. It is leading the world in this area due to the number of public service agencies and range of emission sources that it covers.

The Carbon Neutral Public Service programme aims to demonstrate government leadership on sustainability by reducing government’s environmental impact. It aims for the six lead agencies (Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Health, The Treasury, Inland Revenue, and the Ministry of Economic Development) to be carbon neutral by 2012 with the other 28 agencies being on the path to carbon neutrality by 2012.

The programme involves a three-step process.
1. Measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from the agency’s activities. These mostly come from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity or for transport.
2. Reducing those emissions.
3. Offsetting remaining emissions by undertaking projects to remove an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or prevent it being released.

All 34 agencies will complete an annual emissions inventory, develop an emissions reduction plan and implement the actions in their plans. They will report on this process to the Ministry for the Environment each year. The focus is on activities up to 2012, but agencies are expected to continue to be carbon neutral or keep progressing towards this goal beyond 2012.

The programme will use New Zealand-based projects to offset the greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be avoided after emissions reduction activities have taken place. The Ministry for the Environment will coordinate and fund the offsetting process for the six lead agencies and will recommend how offsetting projects should be funded and occur for the other 28 agencies.

+ More

World Environment Day events announced

Trevor Mallard Environment - 2 April, 2008 - Eleven special environmental events and projects around the country have been awarded grants so far as part of the lead-up to New Zealand's first ever hosting of World Environment Day on June 5, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard announced today.

"It is great to see communities, organisations and individuals getting behind World Environment Day 2008 and helping to make New Zealand’s hosting of the event a memorable one," Trevor Mallard said.

"This is the first time New Zealand has hosted the United Nations Environment Programme event since its establishment in 1972 – and Wellington is the host city. The World Environment Day theme this year is ‘Working Towards a Low Carbon Economy’. As well as a formal programme, community events around the country are also being planned.

"A number of events throughout New Zealand have already been confirmed and planning is underway for these over the next two months. The first round of funding sees grants totalling around $171,000 going out. A second round of funding for more community events will follow shortly.

"The community events to be funded so far include a Weed Swap – where the public can swap weeds for native plants in Wellington’s Civic Square; a celebratory expo/auction and promotion of sustainable transport by Environment Canterbury in Christchurch; a community-wide tree planting project in Raglan; and a carbon crusade in Hamilton where people run or walk a 4km circuit, each planting trees about 2km in.

"In addition to this, Conservation Volunteers New Zealand will be arranging for non-traditional volunteers (i.e. travellers, backpackers and corporate staff volunteers) to implement a range of practical conservation projects and activities in Auckland, Wellington, West Coast, Punakaiki and Hokitika," Trevor Mallard said.

"The interest that councils, business, communities, interest groups and schools have displayed in World Environment Day 2008 highlights New Zealand’s increasing focus on the importance of the environment and stimulating eco-friendly actions. I encourage more people to get on board to mark this important internationally recognised annual event,” said Trevor Mallard.

The full list of successful applicants is attached, as well as background information on World Environment Day. More information on the event is at (www.world.environment.govt.nz).

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Universo Ambiental  
 
 
 
 
     
SEJA UM PATROCINADOR
CORPORATIVO
A Agência Ambiental Pick-upau busca parcerias corporativas para ampliar sua rede de atuação e intensificar suas propostas de desenvolvimento sustentável e atividades que promovam a conservação e a preservação dos recursos naturais do planeta.

 
 
 
 
Doe Agora
Destaques
Biblioteca
     
Doar para a Agência Ambiental Pick-upau é uma forma de somar esforços para viabilizar esses projetos de conservação da natureza. A Agência Ambiental Pick-upau é uma organização sem fins lucrativos, que depende de contribuições de pessoas físicas e jurídicas.
Conheça um pouco mais sobre a história da Agência Ambiental Pick-upau por meio da cronologia de matérias e artigos.
O Projeto Outono tem como objetivo promover a educação, a manutenção e a preservação ambiental através da leitura e do conhecimento. Conheça a Biblioteca da Agência Ambiental Pick-upau e saiba como doar.
             
       
 
 
 
 
     
TORNE-SE UM VOLUNTÁRIO
DOE SEU TEMPO
Para doar algumas horas em prol da preservação da natureza, você não precisa, necessariamente, ser um especialista, basta ser solidário e desejar colaborar com a Agência Ambiental Pick-upau e suas atividades.

 
 
 
 
Compromissos
Fale Conosco
Pesquise
     
Conheça o Programa de Compliance e a Governança Institucional da Agência Ambiental Pick-upau sobre políticas de combate à corrupção, igualdade de gênero e racial, direito das mulheres e combate ao assédio no trabalho.
Entre em contato com a Agência Ambiental Pick-upau. Tire suas dúvidas e saiba como você pode apoiar nosso trabalho.
O Portal Pick-upau disponibiliza um banco de informações ambientais com mais de 35 mil páginas de conteúdo online gratuito.
             
       
 
 
 
 
 
Ajude a Organização na conservação ambiental.