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SBC Hot Seat with Shannil Varma (CLC Manager)

SBC Hot Seat with Shannil Varma (CLC Manager)

This week, we've got Shannil Varma, Manager of the Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC), in the hot seat. Shannil's role sits within the Climate and Nature team at SBC (which is the secretariat organisation for CLC), and he oversees all the day-to-day operations and...

Climate Leaders Coalition re-commits to ambitious climate action with new convenor

CLC and SBC welcome inquiry into bipartisan adaptation framework

SBC and CLC welcome Friday’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand, which is consistent with the recommendations we have made in our pre-election policy priorities paper. “Such a...

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ASB Officially Endorsed As Carbon Zero

ASB Officially Endorsed As Carbon Zero

ASB has achieved a major step towards its climate goals, by achieving carboNZero certification from Toitu Envirocare. The certification validates ASB’s plan to reduce its carbon emissions in line with international targets.

Coronavirus: Will lockdown air quality improvement inspire us to go greener?

Coronavirus: Will lockdown air quality improvement inspire us to go greener?

Sharp improvements in Auckland’s air quality due to big cuts in traffic volumes under Covid-19 restrictions are being seen as a pointer to a need for new thinking on climate change initiatives.

In some suburban areas, nitrogen oxide levels had fallen to almost zero in the first days of the coronavirus month-long lockdown.

While no one is wishing a prolonging of the restrictions, the ability to turn off transport-generated greenhouse gases is intriguing.

Consultation confirms action on climate change is a critical issue for Tāmaki Makaurau

Consultation confirms action on climate change is a critical issue for Tāmaki Makaurau

Auckland Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee today voted unanimously to endorse, in principle, changes to the region’s response to climate change based on feedback from Aucklanders. A key change is a focus on three key elements to progress climate action -an overarching Tāmaki response and two core drivers for climate action- reducing our emissions and preparing for change.

EV ‘Shout Outs’ popular

EV ‘Shout Outs’ popular

New Zealand businesses have rushed to have their EV efforts profiled via the Gen Less EV Shout Outs initiative, which champions the use of EVs in business.

Businesses already own 23% of the nearly 20,000 registered EVs in New Zealand, and buy most of the new EVs.

So Gen Less launched EV Shout Outs, featured in EVtalk, to give organisations across the country an opportunity to ‘shout out’ about their EVs use online and on billboards across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

How do you run a sustainable and carbon zero corporation?

How do you run a sustainable and carbon zero corporation?

Is it possible for a company to be a large, national corporation and carbon neutral at the same time?

The Warehouse Group is marking its first year as a carboNZero business, and says it’s about time other companies joined the movement.

The Chief Sustainability Officer, David Benattar spoke to The AM Show.

‘EV Shout Outs’ to feature firms’ EV use

‘EV Shout Outs’ to feature firms’ EV use

Businesses across the country are invited to ‘shout out’ about their EV use, in a bid to encourage more organisations to switch their fleets.

The newly launched EV Shout Outs is the latest project from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) Gen Less platform and celebrates businesses talking about their EV use on social media by giving them shout outs on prominent digital billboards in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and online.

Warehouse Group takes a hardline on carbon-heavy suppliers

Warehouse Group takes a hardline on carbon-heavy suppliers

The country’s largest retailer says it is “absolutely” prepared to drop suppliers if they don’t cut back on their carbon emissions.

It is nearly a year since The Warehouse Group went “carbon neutral” – that is, it has completely offset its carbon footprint by cutting back on its own emissions, tree planting and buying carbon credits.

In the last year, the company has managed to reduce its overall emissions by 4 per cent.

Foodstuffs building country’s largest solar panel roof

Foodstuffs building country’s largest solar panel roof

Foodstuffs is building the country’s largest solar panel farm to power its new North Island distribution centre.

The distribution centre, which will serve all Pak ‘n Save, New World and Four Square supermarkets in the North Island, will include the equivalent of 14 netball courts of solar panels.

The building is currently under construction near Auckland International Airport.

Climate Leaders Coalition re-commits to ambitious climate action with new convenor

Westpac NZ and Contact Energy agree first sustainability-linked loan

Westpac NZ and Contact Energy have entered into a $50 million, four-year sustainability-linked loan facility, the first such loan issued by Westpac NZ and one of the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Contact Energy will receive a discounted interest rate on the sustainability-linked loan if it meets ambitious targets linked to its environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating determined by the independent ratings agency RobecoSAM. Conversely, Contact will pay higher interest costs if it doesn’t meet the rating targets agreed with Westpac.