Carbon neutral public service program update

Agencies in the core public service released their carbon emissions inventories and carbon reduction plans as the first step in New Zealand's Carbon Neutral Public Service program, announced Environment Minister Trevor Mallard. 

"Responsibility for developing a more sustainable nation needs to be shared by everyone. That is why the Labor-led government, through its innovative Carbon Neutral Public Service program, 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," Mallard said.

The aim of the program 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 program has been to calculate each department's emissions inventory — and agencies are releasing these emissions inventories and their carbon reduction plans today," Mallard said.

"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."

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.

For more information, visit http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/sustainability/carbon-neutrality.html.