Making progress on the commitments will require business and local government to work closely together, and will benefit from educational institutions who are training the next generation of leaders.
Since the launch of the Climate Leaders Coalition in July, the new organisations who have signed up to the Climate Change Statement also include logistics leader Mondiale, sustainability consultancy thinkstep and engineering and professional services firm WSP Opus.
“We’re pleased to welcome the new organisations who have signed up to the commitments”, said Mike Bennetts, CEO Z Energy and convenor of the Climate Leaders Coalition. “One of the most important aspects of the Coalition is that we are a collective. Transitioning to a low emissions future is going to take us working together, across the economy, creating solutions and sharing what we’re learning. We encourage other organisations to join us to make the most of this collective journey.”
The Climate Leaders Coalition is committed to measuring and reporting their greenhouse gas emissions, setting targets and working with suppliers to reduce emissions, to help keep global warming within two degrees. Read the full statement.
About the new signatories
The Auckland Council represents nearly 1.5 million people stretching from Wellsford to Franklin and has an emissions reduction target of 40% reduction by 2040. Their approach to carbon reduction involves embedding sustainability thinking, identifying specific actions to reduce their emission footprint, and engaging their people to play their part.
Auckland Transport is responsible for all of Auckland’s transport services (excluding state highways and rail corridors), from roads and footpaths, to cycling, parking, and public transport. It is a key influencer when it comes to effectively reducing carbon through the operation of their assets and taking actions to reduce transport emissions.
Mondiale is the largest privately owned international logistics organisation in New Zealand and has already made a sizeable investment in energy efficiency, staff awareness and behavioural change to improve its own carbon footprint.
Otago Polytechnic aims to lead the way in sustainable practice and have committed to be carbon neutral by 2030. Notably, 100% of their undergraduate programmes directly address issues of sustainable practice, to achieve a multiplier effect through the actions of their graduates.
Panuku Development Auckland helps to rejuvenate parts of Auckland – from small projects that refresh a site or building, to major transformations of town centres or neighbourhoods. Panuku is committed to integrate sustainability in development areas in response to the predicted impacts of climate change – improving environmental quality, and delivering infrastructure to support long-lasting behaviour change.
thinkstep enables other businesses to succeed sustainably by understanding the life-cycle impacts of their products and services, and works to support wider adoption of sustainability across the business sector. They are B Corp certified, have committed to setting a science-based target, and are reducing their business travel, the main source of their own emissions.
WSP Opus is the New Zealand operation of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consulting firms. It has a vision of zero harm and of regeneration to the planet, embedding future ready awareness through their operations, project delivery and throughout their supply chain.
