Signatory News

EECA – How to cut your transport emissions and improve your carbon footprint

EECA – How to cut your transport emissions and improve your carbon footprint

Major reductions in transport are critical to achieving New Zealand’s commitment of being carbon neutral by 2050 – with 42 per cent of our carbon dioxide emissions attributed to vehicles.

For most New Zealanders, fossil-fuelled vehicles are the biggest source of our individual emissions, with nearly 70 per cent of all transport CO2 emissions coming from cars, SUVs, utes, vans and light trucks.

ANZ wants urgent action on climate change, starting with its big customers

ANZ wants urgent action on climate change, starting with its big customers

The country’s biggest bank, ANZ, says it would eventually cut off business customers who do not take a serious approach to the risks of climate change as a last resort.

In October, New Zealand became the first country to pass a law making financial organisations disclose, and act, on climate-related risk.

The new law covers about 200 large banks, credit unions and building societies, investment schemes such as KiwiSaver, licensed insurers, and listed companies.

Transpower launches green finance programme in a first for transmission grids

Transpower launches green finance programme in a first for transmission grids

Transpower today announces the launch of its Green Finance Programme, Certified under the global
Climate Bonds Standard. This important step reflects Transpower’s commitment to achieving a net
zero carbon transmission grid and supporting Aotearoa New Zealand’s net zero carbon targets. This
is the first Certification globally of a transmission grid under the newly published Electrical Grids and
Storage criteria.

Victoria University of Wellington – Sinking coastlines mean parts of Christchurch will feel impact of sea-level rise earlier than expected

Victoria University of Wellington – Sinking coastlines mean parts of Christchurch will feel impact of sea-level rise earlier than expected

Parts of Christchurch will feel the impacts of sea-level rise earlier than expected because the land is sinking, according to new data.

Large areas from Woodend to Lake Ellesmere, including Banks Peninsula, are subsiding up to three millimetres per year, which means an extra 30 centimetres of sea-level rise over the next 100 years.

The data has come from NZ SeaRise, a five-year research programme funded by the Government involving 30 local and international experts.

It has taken into account the natural rises and falls of the country’s coastline, as well as climate change and warming temperatures to project sea level rises.

Ravendown quarry gets support for shift away from coal

Ravendown quarry gets support for shift away from coal

Ravensdown has secured government co-funding to match its investment to install a biomass combustor at its Dipton lime quarry in Southland.
The project, part of Ravensdown’s plan to eliminate coal use by 2030, would mean locally supplied wood fuel would replace coal in the lime-drying process.

In a statement yesterday, the co-operative said its $511,074 was being matched by funding through the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) fund.

IAG welcomes the release of the draft National Adaptation Plan

IAG welcomes the release of the draft National Adaptation Plan

Amanda Whiting, CEO IAG New Zealand says, “Climate change is happening. It is a critical issue for our country, and it is already having serious impacts on the lives of New Zealanders through more frequent and intense storms, floods, droughts, wildfires, and in time, rising sea levels.

“As New Zealand’s largest general insurer, with a relationship with one in two households, we see first-hand the devastating impact these events have on New Zealanders and how they put people’s lives at risk.

Victoria University of Wellington – Changing behaviours of a university community

Victoria University of Wellington – Changing behaviours of a university community

With approximately 22,000 students, Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington is its own small city in the heart of the capital.

As a sustainability engagement coordinator, or kaitaupua toitū, Andrea Marsden is one of a small team whose goal is to change the habits of that number for the better, from worm farms to reusable coffee cups.

The world’s climate is changing; the latest IPCC report says there is still time left to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. That means changing behaviours drastically.

Hydrogen-powered car-share scheme a first for New Zealand, Toyota says

Hydrogen-powered car-share scheme a first for New Zealand, Toyota says

Eight New Zealand companies will share a fleet of four hydrogen-powered cars in what is being described as the first commercial application of hydrogen fuel cell technology in New Zealand.

Toyota will provide The Warehouse, Air New Zealand, Saatchi and Saatchi, TVNZ, Beca, Westpac, Spark and Z Energy with Mirai cars which run off green hydrogen (hydrogen produced from renewable energy).