Sustainability
Sustainability is firmly at the heart of the New Zealand government's agenda. It underpins the government's themes of economic transformation, national identity and families – young and old. These three themes remain the means by which sustainability will be built into the economy and society to position New Zealand as an innovative and sustainable nation, with sustainability at the heart of our identity.
The government's long term aim is to make New Zealand the first truly sustainable nation of the world.
Emissions trading scheme
On 20 September 2007 the government released a comprehensive statement on climate change which sets targets for reducing New Zealand greenhouse gas emissions. The announcements included details of a proposed New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme and a Plan of Action for Sustainable Land Management. Over the coming weeks and months, the government will be engaging widely with stakeholders and the public on these proposals. Full details of the statement, the announcements, and the engagement programme can be found at www.climatechange.govt.nz.
The New Zealand Energy Strategy
New Zealand faces two major long-term energy challenges. The first is responding to climate change and tackling carbon emissions from our energy production and use. The second is delivering secure, clean energy at affordable prices to support economic development, while being environmentally responsible.
On 11 October 2007,the government launched the New Zealand Energy Strategy (NZES) which sets out the government's vision for a sustainable, low emissions energy system fro New Zealand. It describes the actions that will be taken to make this vision a reality and is an important part of a package of initiatives the government is introducing to advance sustainability, economic transformation and to help New Zealand respond to climate change.
The strategy was launched alongside the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, which delivers more detail on the renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives discussed in the NZES.
The government's sustainability initiatives
In February 2007, six initiatives were announced as part of the government’s wider strategy to lead New Zealand towards greater sustainability in resource use and way of life.
The six sustainability initiatives deliver across four common themes:
- leadership through a call to action and changes to government's own practices;
- encouraging the uptake of sustainable practices across New Zealand by promoting the benefits of being more sustainable;
- recognising and supporting the work being done in communities, local government and business; and
- the use of partnerships to promote change.
The six initiatives sits alongside a much broader public sector work programme contributing to sustainability. Current work includes the New Zealand Energy Strategy, the New Zealand Transport Strategy, and development of an Emissions Trading Scheme for New Zealand.
The purpose of the six initiatives is to serve as a rallying point for a national drive on sustainability and to encourage more sustainable practices in New Zealand households, communities, businesses, local authorities and central government.
- Business Partnerships for Sustainability (led by the Ministry of Economic Development)
Business has a significant role to play in helping to improve New Zealand’s sustainable performance. Making progress towards being a truly sustainable nation will therefore require collaboration and partnership between government, business and the community. The goal of this initiative is to support New Zealand firms to use environmental integrity for economic advantage and to position New Zealand as a world-leading exponent of smart, innovative and business-savvy responses to environmental issues.
- Sustainable Government Procurement Project (led by the Ministry of Economic Development)
The purpose of the Sustainable Government Procurement Project is to make sustainability a core component of government procurement policy and practice. Through sustainable procurement practice, government departments will be encouraged to purchase goods and services that are more water and energy efficient, emit less carbon, produce less waste, and are accredited or environmentally certified where possible.
- Enhanced Eco-verification (led by the Ministry of Economic Development)
This initiative supports the development of infrastructure and tools that enable firms to measure and reduce their environmental and carbon footprints in a practical, cost-effective way. Reduction strategies will be underpinned by an eco-verification infrastructure with strong international credibility.
- Household Sustainability [link to MFE website] (led by the Ministry for the Environment)
The programme is designed to raise awareness of the simple, practical steps that householders can take towards sustainability. In its first year, the programme will deliver a sustained information programme to keep sustainability in the public arena and keep awareness high. Partnerships are also being built with regional and local organisations to promote sustainable action.
- Carbon Neutral Public Service [link to MFE website] (led by the Ministry for the Environment)
This programme will move the 34 core Public Service departments towards carbon neutrality. Becoming carbon neutral involves three main steps: measuring emissions, reducing them as far as practicable and then offsetting the remaining emissions. The agencies are measuring all emissions linked to their energy and electricity use, transport (including domestic and international air travel), and waste sent to landfill. Six agencies will be carbon neutral by 2012 – the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economic Development, Inland Revenue, Department of Conservation and the Treasury – and the remaining 28 will be on a path towards carbon neutrality.
- Towards Zero Waste [link to MFE website] (led by the Ministry for the Environment).
The government has announced a new drive to cut down on waste and make recycling easier. New initiatives include:
- A network of public recycling stations
- Securing dedicated funding for further solid waste minimisation and management
- Regulation back up for product stewardship schemes, including recognition of existing industry sponsored schemes.
Carbon Neutral Public Service
The Ministry of Economic Development is one of six lead government agencies taking part in the Carbon Neutral Public Service programme. The programme aims to demonstrate government leadership on sustainability by reducing government's environmental impact. The six lead agencies intend to be carbon neutral by 2012.
Our Emissions Inventory Report and our Carbon Reduction Plan for 2006/2007 are available online.
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Cabinet Documents
Cabinet documents relating to sustainability.
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Archive
Information related to sustainability in New Zealand from 2000 to 2005.
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