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Government initiatives with climate change benefits – public sector

Current programmes

Climate change adaptation work programme

The Government’s climate change adaptation work programme has developed a range of information and guidance materials on the impacts of climate change and how we can adapt to and prepare for these impacts.

The Government will be enhancing adaptation efforts by ensuring better coordination between central government agencies through maintaining partnerships with local government on the need to prepare for climate change.

The Quality Planning website provides information on expected climate change impacts in New Zealand and advice on methods for considering and addressing climate change effects under the Resource Management Act.

Sustainable government procurement project

Through sustainable procurement practice, government departments are encouraged to buy goods and services which are water and energy efficient, emit little carbon, produce minimal waste, and are accredited or environmentally certified where possible.

Past programmes

Carbon Neutral Public Service

This programme ran until 2009 and aimed to demonstrate government leadership by moving the core public service towards carbon neutrality.

The programme involved measuring carbon emissions, implementing activities to reduce emissions as far as possible while being cost-effective, and a plan to offset the remaining, unavoidable emissions.

Govt3

The Govt3 programme ran from 2003 to 2009 and helped central government agencies undertake sustainable and energy-efficient activities. Fifty-eight organisations signed up for Govt3 membership, including the 34 core government agencies.

The Govt3 programme also engaged in less formal partnerships with sustainability leaders in the wider public and private sectors. The programme provided information, practical tools, and links to other agencies that had undertaken similar initiatives. Govt3 focused on four areas: recycling and waste minimisation, buildings, transport, and office consumables and equipment. It also focused on procurement, which cut across the other four areas.

  • Find out more about Govt3.

Communities for Climate Protection

This programme ran until 2009 and was a voluntary programme for local councils. It provided a framework for local councils to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their own operations and from their communities by:

  • improving energy efficiency and conservation
  • increasing sustainable transport
  • enhancing urban design
  • reducing landfill emissions at the municipal level.

The framework set five milestones for councils:

  • conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory
  • analyse and forecast set emission reduction goals
  • develop a local action plan to achieve these goals
  • implement and quantify the benefits of policies and measures in the action plan
  • monitor progress towards the reduction goal.

Last updated: 5 October 2009