News

We know we must do better by the planet, but when will we start? As Aotearoa’s awareness of climate change and its impact increases, Stuff’s latest NowNext survey asked Kiwis how that knowledge is influencing decisions in their everyday lives. The findings shine a light on how important sustainability really is to Kiwis.

Fonterra has been working with others and partnering on innovative projects to achieve its environmental goals.

Reducing methane emissions is one of the biggest challenges facing the dairy sector and the co-op has teamed up with AgResearch to find a solution.

The result of this collaboration is Kowbucha, which has moved from Fonterra’s Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North to the farm.

Fonterra researchers have moved out of the lab and onto the farm for the next stage of trials on the company’s in-house Kowbucha project, aimed at offering a solution to livestock methane emissions.

The project has centred on developing a culture-based solution to emissions, sourced from the co-operative’s extensive library of culture strains that encompass almost 80 years of assorted cultured product strains used in cheeses and yoghurts.

Fonterra head of strategy and innovation Mark Piper says after sorting through thousands of culture strains some had been identified as having potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cows.

Tairāwhiti’s first solar power plant is one step closer, with an application for resource consent lodged with Gisborne District Council this week after 12 months of development work.

Gisborne Airport is the proposed location for the 5MW plant, which is being developed by Eastland Group in partnership with Infratec NZ Limited.

Craigmore Sustainables, one of the largest diversified farm management companies in Aotearoa, has secured nearly $80 million in funding from ASB in an innovative sustainability-focused deal.

The sustainable transition loan provides a pathway to develop and embed Craigmore’s sustainability strategy and targets. The company’s portfolio includes a mix of dairy, grazing, forestry and horticultural properties covering almost 20,000 hectares throughout New Zealand.Under the loan terms, Craigmore has committed to providing a robust sustainability strategy with targets and an action plan, within 12 months of drawdown.

The Westpac NZ Government Innovation Fund has announced a $1 million funding pool to drive innovation around financing and incentivising the decarbonisation of Aotearoa.

The Innovation Fund is powered by Westpac NZ and jointly administered with the government. It runs two themed intakes per year, and applicants are invited to apply for funding to help them work towards solving key issues and challenges.

Transpower’s specialist metering and market services business Energy Market Services (EMS) today launched a new service and dashboard to track the real time carbon emissions intensity of the electricity system.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) wrapped up in Glasgow on Friday.

Countries gathered to negotiate the final details of a global bid to keep the planet warming between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, companies in New Zealand have taken the step to reduce their own emissions, as the country works towards cutting emissions by 41 per cent by 2030.

With a set Science Based Target, which are a goals developed by a business to provide it with a clear route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of under 1.5C, and a signatory of the Climate Leaders Coalition, to actively reduce its carbon usage by 2030, here are four of New Zealand’s most carbon-concious businesses:

A major scientific breakthrough in effluent treatment technology will significantly reduce methane emissions from dairy farm effluent.

The methane-busting farm dairy effluent treatment system was launched on Wednesday at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF).

Genesis Energy’s ambition to be a leading developer of solar generation has gained momentum with the selection of a joint venture partner – FRV Australia, a leading utility-scale solar farms developer, asset owner and renewable energy platform.

Toyota Motor Corporation has revealed the production design of the new bZ4X, the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) addition to their beyond zero range.

More than 45,000 people are already using Auckland Council’s FutureFit tool to measure and reduce their personal carbon footprint.

To date, they’ve saved the carbon equivalent of 13,600 car trips from Auckland to Wellington by making simple adjustments to their habits.