Latest news with #ToitūCarbonReduce
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council Steps Up Climate Action With Toitū Carbon Reduce Certification Programme
Press Release – Ruapehu District Council Chief Executive Clive Manley said Council was committed to playing its part in addressing the climate crisis and building long-term resilience for the district. Ruapehu District Council is taking a significant step in its climate change response by undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme, a science-based initiative that supports organisations to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Chief Executive Clive Manley said Council was committed to playing its part in addressing the climate crisis and building long-term resilience for the district. 'Climate change is already having a real impact on our communities – particularly in key sectors like agriculture and tourism,' said Mr Manley. 'By undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification process, we are creating a robust, science-aligned plan to better understand and reduce Council's own environmental footprint. It's about taking responsibility, leading by example, and making sure we're doing our part to support a more sustainable future for Ruapehu.' The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification follows international best practice under the ISO 14064-1 standard. It requires Council to measure our significant operational greenhouse gas emissions – including electricity and fuel use, waste, business travel, and other emissions – and develop a plan to reduce these emissions over time. The results are independently verified to ensure accuracy and accountability. The work is being led by Council's Policy, Strategy and Sustainability team funded by a new targeted Environmental Resilience Rate consulted on as part of the current 2024/34 Long Term Plan for introduction in the 2025/26 financial year. Mr Manley said the new targeted rate will cost ratepayers just $21.22 per year (per rating unit) – a very modest investment for the long-term environmental, economic, and strategic benefits it will deliver well beyond regulatory compliance. 'This work will support better decision-making across our organisation – from procurement to infrastructure planning – and provide verified data that helps guide future policy. It also enables Council to access lower borrowing costs for environmental projects help through the Local Government Funding Agency, helping reduce financial pressure on ratepayers.' He added that the programme would deliver shared value for the wider community. 'Having a certified carbon reduction plan in place shows our commitment to sustainability in a way that's transparent, measurable, and credible. It helps us build trust with our communities, iwi, suppliers, and central government, and positions Ruapehu to be part of wider regional and national climate solutions.' The baseline emissions year for the certification is the 2024 financial year (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), with certification targeted for October 2025. Council plans to share progress as part of its 2024/25 Annual Report. The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme will enable Council to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and help in building long-term resilience for the district.
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council Steps Up Climate Action With Toitū Carbon Reduce Certification Programme
Ruapehu District Council is taking a significant step in its climate change response by undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme, a science-based initiative that supports organisations to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Chief Executive Clive Manley said Council was committed to playing its part in addressing the climate crisis and building long-term resilience for the district. 'Climate change is already having a real impact on our communities - particularly in key sectors like agriculture and tourism,' said Mr Manley. 'By undertaking the Toitū Carbon Reduce certification process, we are creating a robust, science-aligned plan to better understand and reduce Council's own environmental footprint. It's about taking responsibility, leading by example, and making sure we're doing our part to support a more sustainable future for Ruapehu.' The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification follows international best practice under the ISO 14064-1 standard. It requires Council to measure our significant operational greenhouse gas emissions - including electricity and fuel use, waste, business travel, and other emissions - and develop a plan to reduce these emissions over time. The results are independently verified to ensure accuracy and accountability. The work is being led by Council's Policy, Strategy and Sustainability team funded by a new targeted Environmental Resilience Rate consulted on as part of the current 2024/34 Long Term Plan for introduction in the 2025/26 financial year. Mr Manley said the new targeted rate will cost ratepayers just $21.22 per year (per rating unit) – a very modest investment for the long-term environmental, economic, and strategic benefits it will deliver well beyond regulatory compliance. 'This work will support better decision-making across our organisation - from procurement to infrastructure planning - and provide verified data that helps guide future policy. It also enables Council to access lower borrowing costs for environmental projects help through the Local Government Funding Agency, helping reduce financial pressure on ratepayers.' He added that the programme would deliver shared value for the wider community. 'Having a certified carbon reduction plan in place shows our commitment to sustainability in a way that's transparent, measurable, and credible. It helps us build trust with our communities, iwi, suppliers, and central government, and positions Ruapehu to be part of wider regional and national climate solutions.' The baseline emissions year for the certification is the 2024 financial year (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), with certification targeted for October 2025. Council plans to share progress as part of its 2024/25 Annual Report. The Toitū Carbon Reduce certification programme will enable Council to measure, verify, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and help in building long-term resilience for the district.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council's Corporate Emissions Reduction On Target
Press Release – Kapiti Coast District Council Mayor Janet Holborow says that these latest figures prove that Council is on the right track, and that the commitment is already paying off. Kāpiti Coast District Council has been a forerunner on reporting its corporate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and have released the latest emissions inventory report. The Council committed to measuring and independently auditing its organisational emissions in 2010, and was the first local authority in New Zealand to certified under Enviro-Mark's Carbon Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme in 2012 (now known as Toitū Carbon Reduce). The 2023-24 greenhouse gas emissions inventory and management report is now available on the website, and the figures show some impressive progress: the Council has reduced its corporate emissions by 72% since 2010. The Council has an aspirational goal to be 'net zero' by 2040. Mayor Janet Holborow says that these latest figures prove that Council is on the right track, and that the commitment is already paying off. 'We've come a long way since we have started on our emissions reduction journey. But what is good to know is that progress doesn't always need big changes,' Mayor Holborow said. 'It's the small steps that make a difference over time, whether that's phasing in LED streetlights, retrofitting low-flow shower heads into the pools, or finding better waste management practices, it all adds up. 'But it's important we measure these outcomes, so we can see how we're doing and track trends and improvements – so we can see what is working, and where we can still do better,' Mayor Holborow said. 'The latest audit shows that we're making good progress year on year, with our 2023/24 emissions down by 11% from the previous year. That's 446 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that we've managed to keep out of the atmosphere over the year. To put that into context, that's equivalent to the emissions of 23 average households over the same period.' 'The positive thing about reducing emissions is that it typically leads to improved energy efficiency, which lowers costs for Council, so we're able to deliver multiple benefits to our community. Mayor Holborow said that Council have embedded this thinking across the organisation, so taking action on climate change is not just about the big projects, it's about taking steps, no matter how small. 'Making decisions that prioritise energy efficiency or sustainability means that we're intentional about our resources – how we use power or dispose of waste, and being more efficient over time. 'These increased efficiencies have helped us reduce our carbon footprint as well as reducing operational costs, so it's delivering benefits in more ways than one. 'I'm incredibly proud of the role that Council has played, but it's important to note that it's a cumulative result, and we are already the beneficiaries of decisions that have been made by successive Councils over the years. This shows that climate action is a team effort, and what we plan today will have impacts for the future. 'This also shows us that success isn't reliant on big changes and investment, but can also be achieved through smaller adjustments. 'Setting goals and targets means that we can align ourselves on the same path and collectively make those wins. 'Looking back shows us how far we have come since we started this journey in 2010, and I am proud of our progress, but recognise there is still more to do,' Mayor Holborow said.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Council's Corporate Emissions Reduction On Target
Kāpiti Coast District Council has been a forerunner on reporting its corporate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and have released the latest emissions inventory report. The Council committed to measuring and independently auditing its organisational emissions in 2010, and was the first local authority in New Zealand to certified under Enviro-Mark's Carbon Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme in 2012 (now known as Toitū Carbon Reduce). The 2023-24 greenhouse gas emissions inventory and management report is now available on the website, and the figures show some impressive progress: the Council has reduced its corporate emissions by 72% since 2010. The Council has an aspirational goal to be 'net zero' by 2040. Mayor Janet Holborow says that these latest figures prove that Council is on the right track, and that the commitment is already paying off. 'We've come a long way since we have started on our emissions reduction journey. But what is good to know is that progress doesn't always need big changes,' Mayor Holborow said. 'It's the small steps that make a difference over time, whether that's phasing in LED streetlights, retrofitting low-flow shower heads into the pools, or finding better waste management practices, it all adds up. 'But it's important we measure these outcomes, so we can see how we're doing and track trends and improvements – so we can see what is working, and where we can still do better,' Mayor Holborow said. 'The latest audit shows that we're making good progress year on year, with our 2023/24 emissions down by 11% from the previous year. That's 446 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that we've managed to keep out of the atmosphere over the year. To put that into context, that's equivalent to the emissions of 23 average households over the same period.' 'The positive thing about reducing emissions is that it typically leads to improved energy efficiency, which lowers costs for Council, so we're able to deliver multiple benefits to our community. Mayor Holborow said that Council have embedded this thinking across the organisation, so taking action on climate change is not just about the big projects, it's about taking steps, no matter how small. 'Making decisions that prioritise energy efficiency or sustainability means that we're intentional about our resources – how we use power or dispose of waste, and being more efficient over time. 'These increased efficiencies have helped us reduce our carbon footprint as well as reducing operational costs, so it's delivering benefits in more ways than one. 'I'm incredibly proud of the role that Council has played, but it's important to note that it's a cumulative result, and we are already the beneficiaries of decisions that have been made by successive Councils over the years. This shows that climate action is a team effort, and what we plan today will have impacts for the future. 'This also shows us that success isn't reliant on big changes and investment, but can also be achieved through smaller adjustments. 'Setting goals and targets means that we can align ourselves on the same path and collectively make those wins. 'Looking back shows us how far we have come since we started this journey in 2010, and I am proud of our progress, but recognise there is still more to do,' Mayor Holborow said. For more information on Council's emissions reduction journey visit:
