Carbon Neutral Public Sector
Our emissions inventory and reduction plan

What is the Carbon Neutral Public Service?

The Carbon Neutral Public Service programme aims to demonstrate government leadership on sustainability by reducing government's environmental impact.

It will do this by making the 34 core public service agencies carbon neutral. It will make sure the six lead agencies are carbon neutral by 2012 with the other 28 agencies being on the path to carbon neutrality by 2012.

How does the programme work?

The programme involves a three-step process.

  1. Measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from each agency's activities.
  2. Reducing those emissions.
  3. Offsetting remaining emissions by undertaking projects to remove an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or prevent it being released.

All 34 agencies will complete an annual emissions inventory, develop an emissions reduction plan for their organisation and implement the actions in their plans. The programme will use New Zealand-based projects to offset the greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be avoided after emissions reduction activities have taken place.

Our emissions inventory and reduction plan

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is one of the government agencies taking part in the Carbon Neutral Public Service programme.

You can find our emissions inventory and reduction plan for 2006/07 below.  

Highlights from our emissions inventory and reduction plan are that:
  • We have reduced our waste to landfill from 72 kg per staff member to 18 kg since February 2007
  • We will implement a travel plan to reduce our emissions from domestic and international transport
  • We will conduct annual energy audits for all our buildings

Govt3

The "3" in Govt3 stands for the "three pillars of sustainability"; environment, economy and society. In New Zealand, our government has shown leadership in this area by developing and implementing Govt3 across the public sector.

Along with 47 other government agencies, MAF has committed to participation in The Ministry for the Environment's Govt3 programme, which aims to promote sustainable practices in public sector workplaces. MAF has a real opportunity, as well as an obligation, to "walk the talk" as a leading sustainable development government agency through implementation of Govt3. MAF Policy's Strategic Plan 2005-2008 has adopted an overarching framework based on sustainable development.

Related Links/Useful Resources

Contact for Enquiries

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington

Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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