News

A project has begun in New Zealand for the refrigerants industry to tackle one of the most potent, but least known causes of climate change.The gases used in refrigerants – perfluorocarbons (PFC) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) – are rated among the most effective at trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere; thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide with respect to their global warming potential, says sustainability expert Darren Patterson. This, combined with their widespread use, makes them a high priority target for tackling climate change worldwide, he says.

DETA Consulting works closely with many of New Zealand’s largest energy users, and carbon emitters, to
improve their carbon footprint through improved efficiencies across their organisations. We are proud
of the impact that we have reducing New Zealand’s carbon footprint – to date our work has reduced
carbon emissions across New Zealand industry by more than 30,000 tonnes per year.

Sustainable building advocates want the construction industry to be given a clear signal to reduce its carbon emissions.

Leading independent experts are providing guidance and oversight to Waste Management’s sustainability strategy For Future Generations.

It is part of the drive by Waste Management, which is New Zealand’s leading resource recovery, recycling and waste management provider, to deliver on the commitments made in its sustainability strategy, launched last year.

Fonterra is shaving eleven years off its coal target, as it announces a new commitment to reduce its reliance on coal.
This commitment is the latest in a series of targets the Co-operative has set as it looks to embed sustainability at the heart of everything it does.

Waste Management NZ welcomes the Interim Climate Change Commission’s call today for more electrification of New Zealand’s road fleet in reducing carbon emissions.

Managing Director Tom Nickels said the report was a reminder of the environmental benefits of EVs, with the company having started its shift to EV waste collection trucks three years ago.

Meridian Energy’s CE Neal Barclay says he strongly supports the Interim Climate Change Panel’s (ICCC) Accelerated Electrification recommendations to the Government.

“The ICCC recommendations show us we can take action now and it won’t cost us the earth,” says Neal. “Accelerating the electrification of transport and process heat is one of the smartest ways New Zealand can actively and significantly reduce emissions and improve the competitiveness of New Zealand business in a global context.”

Brands, businesses, and brilliant Kiwi minds are putting the world first, leading the way to a zero-carbon emissions economy by 2050 with some truly innovative and bold ideas.

Give us hope. Show more solutions – and less doom and gloom.
When we asked Stuff readers about media coverage of climate change, the chorus of voices implored us to help them see a path to a viable future.

In June, we surveyed our audience as part of our ongoing Quick! Save the Planet project and received a stunning 15,248 responses.

Sistema Plastics Ltd has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by achieving Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme (CEMARS®) certification.

CEMARS certification is a recognised greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions measurement and reduction scheme administered by Enviro-Mark Solutions (a subsidiary of Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research). It is the first of a two-step process towards achieving carboNZeroCertTM certification in New Zealand.

Vector has today welcomed the ICCC’s report on Accelerated Electrification.

Vector agrees that accelerating the electrification of transport and process heat will play a major role in reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Initiatives to reduce carbon emissions will impact the whole energy supply chain, and Vector supports an approach that considers the whole energy system.

DB Breweries is planning to switch its brewery at Timaru onto wood chip by the end of next year as part a plan to halve the group’s emissions by 2030.

The firm, owned by Heineken, operates six breweries around the country. But DB Draught’s plant at Timaru is the biggest user of coal-fired steam and thus the single-biggest contributor to the group’s emissions.