Report of the Ministry for the Environment for the year ended 30 June 2007

1 Overview

2 Statement of Service Performance for the Year Ended 30 June 2007

3 Financial Statements for the Ministry for the Environment

4 Non-Departmental Schedules

5 Environmental Report

6 Management of the Ministry

7 Contact Information

Business Travel

 

Staff drove 75,361km in our three Ministry hybrid cars and rental cars, a two per cent increase from 2005/06 (74,204km). Per FTE this equates to 282km, a seven per cent decrease from 2005/06 (303km per FTE).

In 2006/07, Ministry staff travelled a total of 54,126km in taxis. Employees who pay for a taxi personally and are reimbursed later are not included in this figure. Taxi use was not measured in previous years. The Ministry has recently taken steps to help reduce taxi usage. Ministry staff have been reminded that bus tickets are available for travel across town to help limit taxi usage. We will continue to monitor taxi usage in future years.

Ministry staff flew 1,663,681km domestically in 2006/07, a 23 per cent increase from 2005/06 (1,354,851km). Per FTE this equates to 6,221 domestic kilometres, a 13 per cent increase from 2005/06 (5,529km flown per FTE).

Ministry staff flew 3,683,176km internationally in 2006/07, a 12 per cent increase from 2005/06 (3,283,391km). Per FTE this equates to 13,773 international kilometres, a three per cent increase from 2005/06 (13,400km flown per FTE).

The increase in air travel results from the Ministry’s increased workload and outputs from the climate change work programme, local government work programmes and the new sustainability initiatives. The Ministry’s increased international air travel is due to staff representing New Zealand interests in international climate change negotiations and negotiations for environmental provisions in new free trade agreements.

Table 3: Benchmarking our performance: Business travel

	2006/07	2005/06	2004/05	2003/04
Ministry and hire car travel per FTE (km)	282	303	410	414
Domestic air travel per FTE (km)	6,221	5,529	5,439	9,484
International air travel per FTE (km)	13,773	13,400	6,633	9,665
Key targets and commitments	Progress at 30 June 2007
Monitor air travel and understand and report back on the reasons for any fluctuation year to year, with a view to reducing business travel per FTE.	Ongoing: Continue to monitor travel throughout 2007/08.

Carbon Footprint

Note

(1) 2006/07 data includes CO₂ emissions from taxi usage. None of the other years listed do so. Taxi emissions contributed 1.6 per cent (14.1 tonnes) to the Ministry’s total CO₂ emissions in 2006/07 (897 tonnes).

(2) 2006/07 data uses the most up-to-date CO₂ emission factors for petrol and electricity.

The Ministry’s carbon footprint is made up of emissions from energy use as noted in the legend in figure three. In line with standard practice, it does not include emissions from the Ministry’s waste disposed of to landfill, or embedded emissions in materials used.

The Ministry generated a minimum⁴ of 896.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂)-equivalent emissions in 2006/07, a 22 per cent increase from 2005/06 (737.8 tonnes). The Ministry’s CO₂ equivalent emissions were 3.4 tonnes per FTE, an 11 per cent increase from 2005/06 (3.0 tonnes per FTE). The increase is due to our increased domestic and international air travel. Carbon dioxide emissions from taxi use were also able to be measured for the first time and are included in the 2006/07 calculation. We will continue to include taxi usage emissions in future reporting.

Table 4: Benchmarking our performance: CO₂ equivalent emissions

	2006/07	2005/06	2004/05	2003/04
CO2-equivalent emissions per FTE (tonnes)	3.4	3.0	2.1	3.2
Key targets and commitments	Progress at 30 June 2007
Monitor our CO­2-equivalent emissions to understand and report back on the reasons for any fluctuation year to year, and take action to reduce them in line with our commitment to be carbon-neutral by 2012.	Ongoing: Continue to monitor our CO2 -equivalent emissions throughout 2007/08.

In conclusion, the Ministry can be proud of its environmental performance in a number of areas. Policies continue to be developed and implemented to help raise staff awareness of areas for improvement. However, there are also some areas where our environmental performance could improve, for example in reducing domestic and international air travel. A focus on reducing our domestic and international air travel will help reduce the Ministry’s carbon footprint in line with our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2012. Attention will be given to this in 2007/08.

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