By flying less, the government reduces its carbon footprint.
Author: Olivia Wannan
Government agencies collectively cut their footprint nearly 20% in their first step towards “carbon neutrality”, though Climate Change Minister James Shaw isn’t sure they can keep it up. Clamping down on flights made the biggest difference: the 39 departments more than halved their air travel emissions in the later stages of the pandemic. The Government set a goal to reduce public sector emissions by 22% by 2025 and offset the rest. While initial results might suggest it could easily meet that target, Shaw expected emissions to bounce up again.
After declaring a climate emergency in 2020, the Government pledged to make the public sector carbon-neutral by 2025. Core government agencies – including ministries, the Department of Corrections and Police – must set science-based goals, implement ideas to achieve their target and report their progress. This is the first time the agencies have repod back, comparing their footprint between July 2021 and June 2022 against a baseline year of their choice. Crown agencies, such as Waka Kotahi (or NZTA) and Worksafe, and schools (with help from the ministry) will also start to report their annual footprints from the end of the year.
Tertiary institutions and state-owned organisations are encouraged, but not required, to take part. If all sign up, more than 100 public agencies will make efforts to reduce their impact, Shaw said.To declare itself carbon-neutral, the government will need to purchase credible carbon offsets from 2025 for all remaining emissions.