Consult, Manage, Change

The Path to Business Sustainability

The most recent research on the move to transformational sustainability suggests that organisations go through five stages:

 

Stage 1 – elementary

 

Stage 2 – engaged

 

Stage 3 – innovative

 

Stage 4 – integrated

 

Stage 5 – transforming

 

The stage that an organisation is at is determined by what they are doing on seven key dimensions. These are:

• How is sustainability defined within the organisation?

 

• What is the strategic purpose served by sustainability?

 

• Do leaders support and lead the sustainability effort?

 

• How are responsibilities for sustainability managed?

 

• How does the organisation deal with issues that arise?

 

• How does the organisation engage its stakeholders?

 

• How transparent is the organisation about its financial, social and environmental performance?

 

The Development Path to the Sustainability Revolution – the 4 “C”s.

Credibility

Credibility is in the eyes of the stakeholders. They are looking for evidence that the organisation is not just meeting lip service compliance but going beyond that. Some evidence of involvement in solving societal problems will also be sought. The key here is systems and processes.

Capacity

As the organisation moves beyond engagement it finds there is so much more to be done and needs to develop internal capacity to do more. The key here is education and coaching that builds on the increasingly sophisticated systems and processes.

Coherence

This is where the organisation’s leadership needs to pull all the various programmes together and match up the programmes to a coherent vision and strategy. Strategic change including appreciative inquiry are the key factors here.

Commitment

This is where the sustainability programmes become so ingrained they become “who we are”

 

 

The Operating Model

So who has to make sure what happens on Monday morning?

The following table summarises a number of points that will need to be addressed as you work through the 4Cs model, gives a quick ‘headline’ summary of the issue and suggests where in a business organisation each issue would fit from a responsibility perspective and from the perspective of what organisational officer/manager is responsible for delivering each issue.

For smaller businesses and non business organisations, most of the responsibility falls on the CEO and leadership team as they will be lacking access to the specialist departments tabulated below.

The new position of Chief Sustainability Officer reflects our belief that we are seeing a paradigm shift that will place sustainability at the core of the organisational model for the foreseeable future. The CSO is responsible for the setting the leadership position on sustainability, engaging the rest of the C suite and top reports in the organisation to provide compelling leadership in each of their areas, setting policy and putting in place systems and procedures for ensuring organisational action is embedded in day to day routines. The CSO will have significant organisational power as well as significant influencing skills to ensure others buy in to the Sustainability programme.

Want more information?

www.sacnz.co.nz

http://www.sacnz.co.nz/resources 

Sustainable practice in ACTION

Sustainable practice in ACTION

Last evening I attended the Winery Tour http://www.thewinerytour.co.nz/dates.html#feb4 at Matakana just north of Auckland City.

The concert was held in the picturesque winery grounds of Ascension Wines http://www.ascensionwine.co.nz/home and it was sold out. As you can imagine with a full house there was plenty of food and wine and drinks being sold to a hungry and thirsty crowd.

As we sat down the concert announcer advised us that the concert organisers together with the winery and their sponsors the NZ glass packaging forum they were running a recycling system for all glass, packaging and general wast at the event.

What struck me was this was not just lip-service sustainability. It was sustainable practice in action. I will tell you how the organisers of the event made it work!

First of all they told the concert goers about what recycling and sustainable practices they where promoting. The concert tour operator had partnered with organisations like the packaging forum http://www.glassforum.org.nz/ and the Love NZ brand http://www.glassforum.org.nz/outabout.html#lovenz to give them the street cred with the audience.

Secondly there where many recycle bins located around the seating. There where 3 bins, one for glass one for paper and one for general rubbish.

However what struck me was that they had recycling ambassadors roaming thru the crowd collecting empty bottles and collecting rubbish. It was great to see audience members rushing up to the collectors with empty bottles and rubbish.

The result of all of this effort was as I left there was hardly any bottles or rubbish littler on the ground so this would make the overnight or next day clean up very easy.

However the day after the concert I had the following questions:
1. Was the mixed rubbish that was collected in bags at the event separated?
2. Where did the general rubbish get dumped?
3. How many bottles or tonnes of glass was recycled?
4. What are the event organisers going about their energy footprint?

So I decided to do some research.

I checked out the Winery Tour web site and on the HISTORY/ABOUT http://www.thewinerytour.co.nz/about.html page it states that the tours waste management is managed by the Glass Packaging Forum.

On the SPONSORS http://www.thewinerytour.co.nz/sponsors.html page the concert organisers tell us:

The Glass Packaging Forum is delighted to be teaming up with the Winery Tour for the third year to provide and promote recycling nationwide.

The Winery Tour will again promote the LOVE NZ brand to its anticipated 50,000 audience nationwide.

Every single glass bottle can be recycled back into new glass bottles or they can even be crushed and used as mulch in vineyards to increase the yield of our grapes. Recycling cans, plastic bottles and paper saves valuable natural resources.

Your bottles and cans can’t recycle themselves, they need your help so- use the blue GLASS recycling bins; YELLOW mixed recycling bins and if it can’t be recycled use the RED waste bins

We are lucky to live in New Zealand. All of us enjoy our environment and scenery. This year around 2500 Love NZ recycling facilities have been put in place on our streets and at events as part of a major public place recycling initiative inspired by the Rugby World Cup. So when you are out and about Love NZ and recycle with care - find out where your local Love NZ recycling bins are on www.lovenz.org.nz
But the above does not answer my questions above.
The glass forum’s home page tells me “The Forum is once again proud to support Civic Events and Classic Hits to manage the waste on the 2012 Classic Hits Winery Tour. NO GLASS from any of the 14 concert locations will go to landfill! We're closing the loop - it's either back to the furnace or into alternative uses”

From my research there is no real time updates on the event recycling scheme. I personally think this would be a good idea.

I have sent an email to the promoters of the event to ask the questions above. I will keep you posted.

It was a great concert event and I fully support the promoters and sponsors for their sustainable efforts.

This post is my entry in the blog competition for World Environment Day. Please tweet this with the hash tag #WED2012 and with reference to @onespec http:\\www.twitter.com/onespec

What is wrong and right with Public Transport??

 
Today I left the car at home and took the bus to the office in Auckland. The weather today 16 May in Auckland is very autumnal with strong wind and passing showers. Not that entrancing when a warm dry car awaits my use in the garage!

The 10 minute walk to the bus stop was nice apart from the down pour – lucky I grabbed the umbrella before I left the house.

The bus was on time – and the driver very polite. The smart card system worked. It is being replaced with the “snapper” card. The new readers where on the bus but the system is not live yet.

At 7am in the morning the traffic was light and before I knew it I was in Newmarket to change busses as the one from my suburb goes to the transport hub Britomart and due to the rain I wanted to go to the Aotea square (mid-town). I did not have to wait long for the connection but was not impressed that I had to pay another fare?? The driver told be that I was not able to transfer?

I arrived at my destination on time and the total cost of my journey was $5.20

For my return home this evening I will find a direct bus that will cost me $5.60

By not bringing my car I have saved a $13 parking fee and the petrol and running costs of my car.

 So what was right about using public transport today?

•  Bus arrived on time to pick us all up at the bus stop
• Arrived on time at my destination
• Got to meet my neighbours at the bus stop
• No stress of driving
• Got to look out the window
• Possibly reduced my carbon footprint for the day?
• One less car on the Auckland roading system today

 In my opinion, this is what was wrong about using public transport today?

•  Integrated ticketing on one platform for all modes of public transport is a must
• Printing out a timetable needs to be simplified
• Needed to transfer to get to my destination
• Was not able to transfer my original fare to my transfer bus
• Might have caught the flu from all the sick and coughing people on both busses
• Total journey time was double the usual

So how many of you use public transport? Have you started to use public transport again due to the rising cost of fuel? What are your views on cost verses convenience?

Please let me know your thoughts?

 

Food Miles and Barriers to Entry

Food Miles

Food miles are all about how much of the carbon foot print of a product of service is created by the distance it has travelled. All products and services have unavoidable emissions content simply from the growing process. It has been debated that New Zealand products and raw materials have and even higher emissions content due to our distance from our key markets.

For example: New Zealand merino wool that is exported as raw product and then made into a garment in Milan and then sold in a London High Street. The footprint of the raw material (wool) is included in the final product.

As New Zealand Inc we all need to think about the NZ brand and was we can protect the brand by actions that reduce of brands exposure to adverse international consumer behaviour. The last thing we want is for NZ products and service to be banned and penalised because of the perceived emissions content of our products and services.

The food miles debate in the UK and Europe is very much focussed at grass roots level with the consumers being absolutely focussed and fanatical about carbon content and the number of miles goods have travelled to get to the market.

 

Trade Barriers

The concept of food miles is part of a broader issue of sustainability which deals with a large range of list of environmental issues, including local food. The term was coined by Tim Lang (now Professor of Food Policy, City University, London) who says: "The point was to highlight the hidden ecological, social and economic consequences of food production to consumers in a simple way, one which had objective reality but also connotations."

Recent findings indicate that it is not only how far the food has traveled but how it was grown in the first place and how it has traveled that is more important to consider. The positive environmental effects of specialist organic farming may be offset by increased transportation, unless it is produced locally. The positive effects of local growing are offset if the grower uses hot houses to grow the product rather than growing outdoors.

But even then the logistics and effects on other local traffic may play a big role. Also, many trips by personal cars to shopping centers would have a negative environmental impact.

As early as 2006 EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has called for a WTO zero tariff agreement on key green goods and rejected the idea of a Kyoto tax as the wrong political approach to securing global agreement on the need to act on climate change. In an audiocast to the 45000 subscribers to the EU's Trade Policy Website, Mandelson argued that trade policy needs to seek to widen and open global markets in the key technologies for addressing climate change. Mandelson called for action at the WTO level and said that all new EU bilateral trade agreements would tackle restrictions to green trade and investment.

 

Business Processes and Competitive advantage

 

Being Green

In March 2008 David Skilling from the New Zealand Institute released the second document related to a low emission New Zealand, called “actions speak louder than words”. The report is focussed on adjusting the NZ economy to a low emissions world.[1]

In the first report the NZ Institute stated that New Zealand should be a fast follower! In this report the NZI talks about the non trivial reputational risk to New Zealand!

Skilling make the point that there will be significant impact on the NZ economy as we adapt to a low emissions world.

The NZI states “NZ needs to begin to reduce its emissions in a meaningful way in order to position it to operate successfully in a low-emissions global economy”.

 

Competitive advantage

More and more we are able to point to examples of “environmentally sustainable” business achieving a competitive advantage by being green.

The NZ Institute states “The aim (of business) is to adjust the NZ economy to a lower emissions mode of operating so that it can compete successfully in a low-emissions global economy”.[2]

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[1] http://www.nzinstitute.org/

[2] http://www.nzinstitute.org/index.php/publications/C32/

How can you move past lip-service energy efficiency?

 
It could be stated that by turning off a light you are being energy efficient! However we know in reality this is not the case. Industrial energy efficiency is the cornerstone of any business based sustainability platform. Energy efficiency can include power, combustible fuels, gasses and water.

Making homes, vehicles, and businesses more energy efficient is seen as a largely untapped solution to addressing the problems of pollution, global warming, energy security, and fossil fuel depletion.

How do you move from transactional energy efficiency to transformational energy efficiency? The key is to imbed a business wide focus on energy efficiency which is captured in your business sustainability plan.

The ultimate goal is to save energy, cut costs and reduce pollution!

 

Trends

Global trends are happening at Country/Government level and at NGO and organisational level.

The International Energy Agency (IEA)[1] is an intergovernmental organisation which acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens

Governments in many countries are increasingly aware of the urgent need to make better use of the world’s energy resources. Improved energy efficiency is often the most economic and readily available means of improving energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To support better energy efficiency policy-making and evaluation, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is developing in-depth indicators of energy use, efficiency trends and CO2 emissions.

 

Overall Trends[2]

Between 1990 and 2005 global final energy use increased by 23% while the associated CO2 emissions rose by 25%. Most of the growth in energy use and CO2 emissions occurred in non-OECD countries.

Globally, energy consumption grew most quickly in the transport and service sectors, driven by rising passenger travel and freight transport, and a rapid expansion in the service economy.

Oil products remained the most important final energy commodity with a global share of 37% in 2005, driven by their use in transport. Electricity consumption is growing rapidly in many countries; its global use increased by 54% between 1990 and 2005.

Traditional biomass and coal both remain important in non-OECD countries although their shares of total final energy use are declining.

 

Energy use has been increasing more slowly than economic activity in most countries. As a result, global energy intensity, calculated in terms of final energy use per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), fell by 26% between 1990 and 2005.

The reductions in energy intensity were largest in non-OECD countries, due to a combination of structural changes and efficiency improvements. In contrast, final energy use per capita increased in most countries between 1990 and 2005. This increase was linked to growing wealth which leads to increased per capita demand for energy-using goods and services.

On average, final energy use per capita in non-OECD countries is only 23% of the level in the OECD.

Better understanding of the factors affecting energy consumption, including the role of energy efficiency, requires indicators based on more detailed data than are available in the IEA statistical balances.

However, this more detailed informationis currently only available on a comparable basis for some IEA countries. Analysis with these disaggregate indicators for 16 IEA countries (IEA16) shows that improved energy efficiency has been the main reason why final energy use has been decoupled from economic growth. Without the energy efficiency improvements that occurred between 1973 and 2005 in 11 of those countries,

Energy use would have been 58%, or 59 EJ, higher in 2005 than it actually was. However, since 1990 the rate of energy efficiency improvement has been much lower than in previous decades.

These findings provide an important policy conclusion — that the changes caused by the oil price shocks in the 1970s and the resulting energy policies did considerably more to control growth in energy demand and reduce CO2 emissions than the energy efficiency and climate policies implemented in the 1990s.

 

 
Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3% from hydroelectricity.

New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 2.4% and are growing very rapidly. The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3.4% from new renewables.

 

What practical steps can you take?

Aligned to your GHG emissions inventory the first step is to measure your energy usage. Report your energy usage to your senior management team and then to manage your energy usage by setting a number of goals and initiatives to reduce your energy consumption and to become more energy efficient.

 

The key focus will be on your M³ strategy – Measure Manage and Mitigate – this is covered in the section on GHG emission inventories.

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[1] http://www.iea.org/index.asp

[2] http://www.iea.org/papers/2008/Indicators_2008.pdf

Interface Inc CASE STUDY

  

Ray Anderson – the owner

The story of Interface Inc. starts with Ray Anderson, its founder. Graduating in 1956 as an engineer from Georgia Tech in the USA, Anderson joined an industrial conglomerate and rose quickly through the hierarchy. At Callaway Mills, later Milliken, he was involved in developing a joint venture with an English manufacturer of carpet tiles, Carpets International [CI]. When the opportunity arose to work directly with CI, Ray Anderson risked everything to take up that opportunity. In 1973, at 38 years of age he left the security of a corporate job, took on massive debt and risk, and ultimately sacrificed his marriage to run his own business, Interface Carpets.

 

The Initial Product

Anderson first came across the then new idea for carpet tiles in 1969. The idea of modular squares of carpet that could be installed without adhesive and moved around as required was perfectly timed for the growth of the computerized office.

 

Growth

By 1996 Interface sales had topped US$1 billion and was represented by sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the US, Canada, UK, Holland, Australia, Thailand, and China. They sell into 110 countries and have a dominant market share with 40% of the world market.

 

Dawning Environmental Awareness

From around 1984, Interface had been involved in a consortium of companies focusing on indoor air quality. One cause of poor indoor air quality is the evaporation of volatile chemicals from the predominantly synthetic based carpets. Interface developed some proprietary products to address the air quality issue but their focus as a company was on legal compliance only.

 

From August 1994, Interface started getting questions from their customers asking about what Interface was doing about the environment. Interface didn’t have any satisfactory answers to these questions so set up a task group that had representatives from all over the business to review Interface’s world wide environmental position.

 

The task group asked Ray Anderson to address its first meeting and give the group an environmental vision. Anderson reported that his vision at that stage consisted of “Obey the law, comply, comply, comply” and he really didn’t have anything to say. At that time one of Anderson’s colleagues sent him a copy of The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken.

He read it and was galvanized. After reading example after example of the unsustainability of conventional business, Anderson prepared a vision statement that he says surprised his staff as much as it surprised him. He set the vision as:

Interface, the first name in industrial ecology, worldwide, through substance not words.

And he set a mission:

To convert Interface into a restorative enterprise, first to reach sustainability, then to become restorative by helping others to reach towards sustainability,

And a strategy:

Reduce, reuse, reclaim, recycle, redesign, adopt best practices, develop sustainable technologies, and challenge our suppliers to move to sustainable best practice.

Now Anderson reports that at the time he was first exposed to Hawken’s work he was searching for some legacy, some ultimate purpose as he contemplated the succession of his business to a younger generation of managers. Given his effective control of the business even though a minor shareholder, he could have made sustainability a crusade without having to make it pay.

 

Increasing Environmental Awareness

Anderson continued to do a whole lot of reading and research into sustainability. He read both sides of the argument for sustainability. This case study provides an updated suggested reading list if you want to read this information for yourself.

From his reading, Anderson found the following information made a compelling argument for sustainability:

 

Rainforest and old growth forest harvesting is unsustainable

Water use is unsustainable, particularly in intensive agriculture/horticulture

Topsoil loss from agriculture and horticulture is unsustainable

Fossil fuel use for transport and electricity generation is unsustainable

The continued emission of greenhouse gases from power generation, transport and agriculture/horticulture will have adverse effects on peoples health as well as the global climate

 

Since then Anderson has made sustainability his personal crusade. He has also found that it has had large positive benefits for Interface’s profitability.

 

Making Sustainability Pay

The more Interface did to improve its environmental position, the better the bottom line impacts. The following are excerpts from Interface’s website.

 

Cumulative Avoided Cost from Waste Elimination Activities (USD in millions)

Interface began its journey to sustainability by focusing on the elimination of waste. At Interface, we define waste as anything that does not provide value to the customer. This includes traditional forms of waste such as off-quality and scrap, as well as nontraditional forms of waste such as overuse of materials, inventory losses, etc.

The cumulative avoided costs from waste elimination activities since 1995 are calculated to be over $372 million.

 

Total Energy Use at Carpet Manufacturing Facilities (energy use per square yard)

Interface has two simple goals related to energy: decrease total energy usage, especially nonrenewable energy, and increase our use of renewable energy.

Total energy used at carpet manufacturing facilities (per unit of product) is down 45% since 1996.

 

Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions (metric tons of CO2)

Our net absolute greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 82% from our 1996 baseline. 33% from improved efficiencies, process changes, and direct renewable energy purchases. 49% from emissions reduction credits from our LaGrange, GA landfill gas-to-energy project.

Interface calculates GHG emissions in accordance with the WRI/WBCSD GREENHOUSE GAS PROTOCOL. In 2006 and 2007, CO2 emissions for the USA and Canada were independently verified by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), as required by our membership in the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX).

 

Interface’s Environmental Management System [EMS]

In the early days, Interface used The Natural Step [TNS] process as its EMS. As Interface developed its own expertise, it moved beyond TNS and now follows its own in house EMS. An EMS like The Natural Step attempts to provide a one size fits all approach to environmental management. TNS is one framework among many and adds little value once the organization has commenced its own journey and can gain more leverage from customized approaches.

 

 

Commentary

The Interface Case Study shows that, like any change initiative, leadership is critical to success. Without Ray Anderson’s engagement and then active advocacy Interface would not have commenced and maintained the sustainability journey in such a successful way.

Anderson’s motivation was generated by his desire to leave a legacy. As he aged and handed over more and more of the running of Interface to new managers he conceded that he needed to consider his ultimate purpose. The sustainability journey that engaged Anderson via a process akin to an ‘epiphany’ provided that ultimate purpose and Anderson still travels the world telling his story.

The coincidence between Anderson’s ‘epiphany’ and Interface’s need to address the clients new needs provided the point of leverage which Anderson was able to use to start the changes at Interface.

Anderson’s embracing of sustainability was broad – he didn’t fixate on greenhouse gas emissions [although Interface do measure and manage these]. Instead he viewed sustainability in its widest context and made changes to Interface to embrace sustainability, and move beyond greenhouse gas emissions.

The solid grounding of Interface on sustainability also meant that Interface could address items that don’t feature in a GHG inventory like water usage as part of its total sustainability package.

Anderson also found that the framework, the environmental management system [EMS], in which the Interface programme played out moved from a one size fits all system to a system customized to meet Interface’s needs. The Interface EMS draws on the very latest discoveries in cognitive linguistics such as Appreciative Inquiry and closes the loop on the case – it started with leadership and it ends with Interface renewing its leadership capability by adopting new tools.

 

Suggested Reading List

The suggested reading list gives some books that everyone contemplating a journey to sustainability must be aware of. Reading them is probably a good idea. Also included are some books that present a skeptical perspective on climate change and why a focus on sustainability is much smarter. And finally some books that give cause for hope.

 

Advocates

Hot Topic by Gareth Renowden. Subtitled Global Warming and the future of New Zealand, this is a good introduction to climate change for New Zealanders.

 

Climate Change Begins At Home by D Reay.

Written from a British perspective but doesn’t push solutions tainted by self interest like XX put in name of the NZ book that pushes carbon zeroXX

 

And if you want to scare yourself …

Heat by G Monbiot. Monbiot is described as the scourge of the lying industry, which should give you the flavour of the book.

AND

Climate Wars by G Dyer. The title says it all. Ripping yarn but a bit over the top.

 

Sceptics

An Appeal to Reason by Nigel Lawson. Subtitled a cool look at global warming, Lawson lays out an alternative view and highlights why a fixation on climate change is counterproductive.

 

Cool It by Bjorn Lomberg argues for a sustainability view not a climate change view and suggests some smart actions that could be taken easily by government.

 

Cause For Hope

Cradle to Cradle by W McDonough and M Braungart.

How design could save us.

Biomimicry by J Benyus.

How learning from nature could save us.

 

Are yours up or down??

  Do you measure your GHG emissions inventories?? If so is the trend line down or up??

Here is an example of a trend UP!

German chemical giant BASF's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose by almost 8pc to 29.3mn t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) last year, the company said in its 2009 financial report.

BASF blamed its purchase of Switzerland-based specialty chemicals firm Ciba, as well repair and installation work at a nitrous oxide (NOx) decomposer for plants in Ludwigshafen, Germany, for the sharp rise.

Lower capacity utilisation also meant the efficiency of its plants declined during 2009. BASF is targeting a 25pc drop in specific GHG emissions, measured per tonne of sales product, against 2002 levels by 2020, although 2009 specific emissions remained flat against the 2002 baseline. Specific GHG emissions had been over 14pc lower than the baseline in 2008, an improvement that has now been reversed.

The firm hopes the newly installed catalysts for breaking down NOx at the Ludwigshafen site, along with reductions from its logistics and transport divisions, will help put it back on track to meet its goal.

The oil and gas division's GHG emissions rise by over a quarter to 1.8mn t of CO2e last year. The division intends to eliminate flaring of unwanted gas from its crude production sites by 2012.

This will hurt them as the European ETS has big penalties for emissions increases.

Remember that if you want external help to measure your GHG inventory be sure to use a firm that is:

• Independent
• a member of a suitable professional body such as a Certified Management Consultant
• can demonstrate they have experience in GHG measurement
• understand all of the relevant standards

Is it still worth being carbon neutral?

 
The GREEN focus seems to have lost some of its shine when it comes to the business case for sustainability. Or has it?

 

If you take a business process improvement focus then the simple act of measuring and managing it makes you GREEN by default?

 

You may say “how so” Well like so many initiatives you can take to be green ans sustainable they are also business process improvement tasks as well.

 

The simple act of measuring and monitoring the amount of KwH of energy you consume over a 12 month period gives you a baseline to start the management of your consumption. Once you have the baseline you can look at initiatives that can increase efficiency, reduce waste and save money.

 

There are still three main aspects to achieving carbon neutrality. Measure Manage and Offset.

 

Measuring emissionsis the essential first step in effecting behaviour change and managing emissions.

 

Gather accurate information on the greenhouse gas emissions linked to energy and electricity use, transport (including domestic and international air travel), and waste sent to landfill.

 

Reducing emissions - Reduction planning is an essential part of the carbon neutrality process. It involves identifying opportunities to reduce emissions.

 

Offsetting unavoidable emissions - offsetting emissions without having made plausible efforts to reduce emissions will compromise the credibility of your Carbon Neutral approach.

 

Offsetting for the sake of it helps no one.

 

An alternative you purchasing carbon credits is to use the would have set aside for carbon credits and use this on efficiency and reduction initiatives.

 

For more help on this we suggest you take a look at the WRI’s GHG Protocol accounting standard.

 

http://www.ghgprotocol.org/

WRI is adding up emission targets

 

The WRI sent on an email recently highlighting the Quantified economy-wide emissions targets for 2020.

This information is worth taking a look at. New Zealands contribution is list along side all the other countries that have made emission targets.

The WRI states:

"On January 31, Annex 1 (industrialized) countries wishing to associate themselves with the Copenhagen Accord were required to register their emission reduction pledges to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

WRI has analyzed the Annex I pledges received so far, as well as pledges by countries that have yet to associate themselves with the Accord. This analysis provides a preliminary picture of where the world stands post-Copenhagen".

Check out the list of country pledges HERE. (opens a PDF) We come in less than Russia!

The question we have to ask is "will these pledges make any difference?"

What is the answer?

 

 

 

What about your WATER FOOTPRINT?

We all know the importance of measuring your GHG emissions inventory. The only way to MANAGE your emissions profile is to have a base line measurement and to instigate specific initiatives to REDUCE real GHG emissions.

 

So in 2010 what are you doing about your WATER FOOTPRINT?

 

Water is a scare resource! As business users of water, we need to get smarter at managing our water usage! Are you including your water usage in your GHG inventory?

 

If not the following may help.

 

 

 

The Water Footprint Network [WFN] http://www.waterfootprint.org has launched its Water Footprint Manual, it is 131 pages covering a comprehensive set of methods for water footprint accounting. It shows how water footprints can be calculated for individual processes and products, as well as for consumers, nations and businesses, and includes methods for water footprint sustainability assessment and a library of water footprint response options.

 

WFN is a non profit foundation striving to promote the transition towards sustainable, fair and efficient use of fresh water resources worldwide, by advancing and applying the "water footprint" concept. The network has more than 80 partners (January 2010) from all relevant stakeholders in water resources management.

 

This information will be a great help to all of us who need to make a start in including water usage in our GHG inventories.

Walking to work! Know your rights!

Some of the readers of this BLOG may walk to work rather than taking the car. A good sustainable option.

I am doing the same at present as I have a 20 minute walk each way to the office each day.

 
In the last few days I have been amazed at the number of times vehicle do not give way to me on Pedestrian Crossings and on curb crossings.

I needed to know my rights! Also as a driver in the weekends the research should help me be a better driver!

THE NZTA web site has a section called Information for Pedrestrians - I read it and way amazed to find out the rules including:If you are within 20 metres of a pedestrian crossing or traffic signals, you must use the crossing, footbridge, underpass or pedestrian traffic signals to cross the road.

DID you know the following:

Q I was walking past a Petrol Station and a car coming out of the station nearly knocked me over. The driver did stop but maintained that he had the right of way and had expected me to stop to let him past.
Who has the right of way on a driveway crossing a footpath?

A. Clause 4.4 of the Land Transport (Road Users) Rule 2004, states:-
Giving way when entering or exiting driveway
A driver entering or exiting a driveway must give way to a road user on a footpath.

So as you can see walkers have rights too!

Development of your sustainability platform and the sustainability journey.

 

 

Green issues, climate change and sustainability issues in the last decade have become mainstream business practices.

 

There are a number of examples that support the notion that environmental sustainability is good for business. I urge you all to take a look at the Interface Carpets sustainability journey.

 

Interface sets the global standard for leading sustainability best practice. They state “the journey toward sustainability has been a momentous shift in the way we operate our business and see the world”.

 

It is my opinion that companies need to take strong and clear leadership in the management of reducing their GHG emission footprints and becoming sustainability leaders not followers.

 

The latest round of climate change talks in Copenhagen were an example of if we leave these issues to politicians and governments then we will be waiting a long time for a global approach.

 

This decade the focus will be on how businesses, communities and individuals take up the reigns and lead from the front.

 

Essentially the focus is on doing it for yourself rather than having it done to you!

 

What innovative responses can you offer to the 21^st century’s paradox of producing more, more effectively, while consuming less and reducing waste.

 

Being sustainable in its own right means that you manage your own resource intensity with the view of getting it as low as possible.

 

The current global recession and economic dislocation provide an opportunity to raise the focus on both cost savings and sustainability. We all have the chance to do well by doing good.

 

There is a great opportunity to use the current economic crisis to establish a sense of urgency around actions that will save costs and improve your environmental footprint.

 

We recommend being more direct with the marketing message by telling your clients and stakeholders exactly what you have undertaken on the sustainability journey.

 

There is one critical factor that I urge you to manage and that is the importance of you – you need to take a strong leadership role on this journey.

 

It is critical that you are brave enough to take a stand early, because the sooner you start actions the stronger leadership you can take. This will give you clear competitive advantage! 

 

Don't be scared to take a stand.

COP15 = Copenhagen Accord = Hot Air - NO result?

 

As predicted the Copenhagen Accord  is not what we wanted as a result from COP15!

How is it that the major nations cannot agree a way forward?

If this was a business merger meeting the CEO's would be looking for new jobs!

What would you have done if you had attended?

It is very evident that we should not rely on the world leaders or the UN to get the action we need.

2010 will be the YEAR for individual and community action to stop human induced climate change.

Sustainable Forestry Bulletin UPDATE from MAF

We have just recieved the following from NZMAF which you will find of interest:

The Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading Scheme) Amendment Act passes into legislation

On 8 December 2009 the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading Scheme) Amendment Act came into law and amends the previous legislation.

The Amendment Act includes a number of important changes relevant to the forestry sector.

For more information on the changes please see the fact sheet Changes to the NZ ETS for Forestry (PDF).

More information on these changes will be available shortly as the various guides on forestry in the ETS, the use of look-up tables, and mapping are updated on the MAF website.

Forestry Allocation Plan update

Submissions on the Forestry Allocation Plan closed on 22 November 2009 and are being considered. As a result of the feedback received, changes were made to the Act that allowed for more detail to be prescribed in the allocation plan in relation to when land will be considered to have “transferred” and what constitutes a “body corporate”. MAF is currently assessing whether further consultation will be required.

The above changes and other changes to the Act mean the Forestry Allocation Plan is unlikely to be issued before the second quarter of 2010.

Forestry Emissions trading scheme notices

1. Deforestation of pre-1990 forest land during 2008 and 2009 – deadline for notifying MAF is 31 January 2010

People who deforest more than 2 hectares of pre-1990 forest land become mandatory participants of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and are legally obliged to:

• Notify MAF;
• File an emissions return quantifying their liability to surrender units;
• Surrender units to meet their emissions liability.

If more than 2 hectares of pre-1990 forest land was deforested between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2009, the person responsible (usually the land owner) is required to notify MAF by 31 January 2010.

Deforestation after 31 December 2009 of more than 2 hectares of pre-1990 forest land must be notified to MAF within 20 working days of starting the deforestation by the person responsible (usually the landowner).

Notification

Notification to MAF must be made using a prescribed form - available at: http://www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry/ets/form_notify-deforestation.htm

Forms should be sent to:
Emissions Trading Scheme
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 1127
WELLINGTON 6140

One of the key pieces of information that must be included on the notification form is a mandatory participant’s holding account number at the New Zealand Emission Unit Registry (NZEUR). Participants are required to meet their emission liabilities by surrendering units from their NZEUR holding account to the Government. Holding accounts are obtained by applying to the NZEUR at: www.eur.govt.nz.

Filing emissions returns

As at 31 January 2010, all mandatory participants who have notified in relation to deforestation between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2009 are legally required to file an emissions return with MAF by 31 March 2010 using the form available at:

• www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry/ets/form_pre-1990-deforestation.htm.

The emissions return must be sent to MAF using a paper form only as no online transaction is available yet.

Mandatory participants, who notify after 31 December 2009, are required to file an emissions return between 1 January and 31 March of the year following the year in which they notified.

Surrendering units

As at 31 January 2010 All mandatory participants who have notified deforestation between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2009 are legally required to surrender units any time from 1 January 2011 to 31 May 2011.

Timeline

The table below summarises the timelines for notifying deforestation, submitting an emissions return and surrendering units:

Pre-1990 forest land deforested	Notification to MAF	Emissions return submitted	Surrender of units
2008	By 31 Jan 2010	1 Jan 2010–31 Mar 2010	1 Jan 2011–31 May 2011
2009	By 31 Jan 2010	1 Jan 2010–31 Mar 2010	1 Jan 2011–31 May 2011
2010	Within 20 days	1 Jan 2011–31 Mar 2011	1 Jan 2011–31 May 2011

If you have any questions please contact 0800 CLIMATE (254 628).

2. Getting your post –1989 forest land into the ETS

If you own forest land established after 31 December 1989, you may be eligible to register as a voluntary participant in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and earn units for increases in the carbon stocks sequestered within your forest since 1 January 2008.

The choice is yours, but if you want to receive units for your forest land in 2010 it’s important not to leave registration until the last minute. You will need to allow sufficient time for your ETS registration application to be processed (usually four weeks, but longer if your application is incomplete or complex) and still leave enough time for filing your emissions return by 31 March 2010 for the net change in carbon stocks to the end of 2009.

You will need to allow enough time for the following steps:

• Step one: apply to the NZEUR (www.eur.govt.nz) to open a holding account. Please note: opening a holding account does not mean you have become registered as an ETS participant.
• Step two: apply to MAF (www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry/ets/ets-transactions) to be registered as a post-1989 participant in the ETS. MAF will need to verify your eligibility.
• Step three: once you have been registered as an ETS participant, you are entitled to file an emissions return by the due date (on or before 31 March 2010). If your application to be registered as an ETS participant has not been approved by 31 March 2010, you are not entitled to file an emissions return in 2010.

MAF will process applications as quickly as practicable. However there can be delays in processing applications when there are errors in the application, mismatches between NZEUR holding account details and the participant registration application or if MAF needs further information from you.

If we receive complete registration applications by 1 February 2010, we should be able to process these in time for you to file an emissions return in 2010.

For more information, visit www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry or call 0800 CLIMATE.

3. MAF online application system – Christmas shutdown

Our online application system will be shut down from midday Thursday 24 December 2009 and will re-open at 8:30am Tuesday 5 January 2010. During this time paper-based ETS registration and emission return forms will still be available for download and printing from the MAF website at www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry/ets/ets-transactions.htm.

The Call Centre (0800 CLIMATE) will also be closed over that period.

Consultation on emissions rulings fees and charges regulations

A person may apply to Ministry of Economic Development for an emissions ruling in respect of the operation and administration of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

A discussion document on Emissions Rulings Fees and Charges Regulations (available at www.med.govt.nz/upload/70943/emissions-ruling-scheme.pdf) has been released by the Ministry of Economic Development. The discussion document outlines proposed regulations to set fees and charges to cover the administration costs associated with providing the emissions ruling service.

Written submissions on the proposals set out in this document are invited by 1 February 2010.

To make a submission, please email climatechange@med.govt.nz or mail to Ministry of Economic Development, PO Box 1473, Wellington.

Note from the New Zealand Emissions Unit Register

The team at the New Zealand Emissions Unit Register has advised that they have been receiving applications for a holding account from participants applying for exemptions. Please note that applications for less than 50 hectare exemptions do not need a holding account.

Tyres that are fuel efficient!

  How about this?

Are the Europeans way ahead of us in NZ?

From November 2012 all new tyres on sale in Europe will be classified and labelled for fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise performance. The labelling will be similar to that required for household appliances and potential buyers will be able to compare tyre characteristics before making a purchase.

IF you had access to this kind of consumer information would you use it??

In a briefing by the WBCSB they state:

26 November 2009 - The European Parliament yesterday (25 November) gave its final blessing to a new EU regulation that will introduce fuel efficiency labels for all new tyres from November 2012.

The new label will follow the 'A to G' classification system of the European energy label, so the best-performing tyres will be awarded an 'A'. In addition to its impact on fuel use, the label will provide information about the product's performance in wet conditions and rolling noise in decibels.

In order to promote higher-performance tyres, member states will no longer be allowed to provide incentives for tyres below class 'C' on fuel efficiency and wet grip.

MEPs approved the political agreement reached early last month with member states in the EU Council of Ministers without a vote.

Under the final compromise, manufacturers will either have to stick the label on each tyre or provide a paper version that should be shown to the end user before purchase. This was considered an improvement to some of the earlier drafts, which only spoke about the label "accompanying" the tyre.

"This is a typical win-win situation where consumers and fleet managers will be able to choose safer and low-noise tyres and save on their fuel bills, while the European Union as a whole will benefit from reduced road transport emissions," said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

The European Commission hopes that raising the awareness of consumers on the impact that tyres have on their fuel bills will promote the use of fuel-efficient models. Efficient technology available today allows drivers to cut down on their fuel bills by as much as 10%, which would also cut CO2 emissions from transport, it said.

But environmentalists stressed that the benefits will only materialise if they actually see the label and it is explained properly. 

"A labelling scheme only works when the worst as well as the best products can be compared. Much will now depend on how member states implement the legislation and how wholesalers and retailers respond to it," said Nina Renshaw of Transport & Energy (T&E), an NGO.

IS THIS SOMETHING OUR MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT SHOULD INTRODUCE INTO NEW ZEALAND?

Would it work?

The Recovering Eco Plundering CEO - Ray Anderson

Are you aware of Interface Carpets?

Are you aware of Ray Anderson?

Then you need too!

If you are business owner who cannot get the "sustainability platform" and wants to understand the business case for sustainability then Ray and Interface will help.

Ray Anderson's company makes Flor, the line that made modular carpet tile sexy. But behind the fresh design is a decades-deep commitment to sustainable ways of doing business.

At his carpet company, Ray Anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional "take / make / waste" industrial system on its head. In a gentle, understated way, he shares a powerful vision for sustainable commerce.

Ray has made a great TED presentation in May 2009.

Please take the time to view this video. Ray speaks real sense and makes a excellent point about th relationship between sustainability and business survival.

 

 

new standards for Product and Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting

 

We have just been advised that the GHG Protocol has a Product and Supply Chain Initiative and has Kicked-Off Stakeholder Advisory Group.

The GHG Protocol web stie tells us:

August marked the launch of two webinars presented to the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the new standards for Product and Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting. The two-hour webinar was conducted for stakeholders in Europe and North America on August 6th and for stakeholders in Asia on August 27th. The webinars provided an overview of the standards’ development process to date, a review of the initial recommendations, and details of the upcoming comment process on the draft standards.

Over 240 stakeholders participated in the webinars. For those who were not able to attend, the webinar was recorded and is now posted on the GHG Protocol website.

The next steps for the Stakeholder Advisory Group will occur when WRI and WBCSD host four one-day stakeholder workshops to get valuable inputs on the drafts of the Scope 3 and Product Standards. Both drafts will be released for stakeholder comment prior to the workshops. 

We recommed that you get active in this group as Scope 3 emissions play a critical part in your GHG Emissions Inventory.

First drafts of Product and Scope 3 Standards have been released. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Who is worse? USA or China?

We have just been sent some data from the WRI's Earthtrends report and one of the data sets was of interest to us and we are sure it will be of interest to you?

The data compares 2005 GHG emissions in the USA with China.

The WRI tells us :

The single largest source of China’s greenhouse gas emissions is the burning of fossil fuels -- coal, oil and natural gas -- for electricity, heat and transport. Coal is by far China’s most important fossil fuel, and some 80% of its total carbon dioxide emissions from energy sources are related to the use of coal. The other major sources of China’s greenhouse gas emissions are agriculture (roughly 15%), industrial processes (9%), and waste (2%).

 

The WRI's citation is to ChinaFAQs: The Network for Climate and Energy Information. Convened by the World Resources Institute. Available online: http://www.chinafaqs.org

This web site tells us:

What is ChinaFAQs?
ChinaFAQs is a project facilitated by the World Resources Institute that provides insight into critical questions about Chinese policy and action on energy and climate change.

The ChinaFAQs network is comprised of U.S.-based experts and partner organizations, including researchers at U.S. universities and government laboratories, independent scholars, civil society organizations, and other professionals.

Is this kind of information helpful or useful to you?

Do you think it is biased to the USA and makes China look bad?

Do you think China will take a leadership role in the meetings in December?

Let us know what you think?

Do TV adds make a difference???

If you have been watching prime time mainsteam TV recently you would have seen The Energy Spot TV adds!

The current TVC relates to fuel efficient driving.

Have you watched the add?

 

 

If so, would you change your driving behaviour?

Have you visited the Energy Sport web site?

Energy wise tells us:

Take action

Wise fuel use is not just what you drive - how you drive and care for your car makes a big difference.

• Drive smoothly. Accelerate and brake gently and smoothly, including in and out of corners.
• Watch your speed. Travelling at 100 km/h instead of 110 km/h can cut around 10% off your fuel bill.
• Cut your idling time. Idling wastes fuel. If you're going to be stationary for more than 30 seconds, switch off the car.
• Check your tyre pressure monthly. If it's too low your car has to work harder, and it can impact on the way the car handles and brakes.
• Keep your load down and your car streamlined. It sounds obvious, but the heavier your load is or the more drag you've got, the harder your car's engine needs to work - it can add up to 5% onto your fuel bills. So if you're not using something - like the golf clubs or the pram - take it out of your car. Reduce drag by taking off roof and cycle racks when you don't need them.
• Love your car.A well-maintained car can use up to 10% less fuel than an inadequately maintained one. Regular servicing, the right tyres for the conditions and proper wheel alignment can all make a difference.

>> Learn more simple ways to cut your car's fuel use.

Did you know?

• The average kiwi household spends around the same amount of money on vehicle fuel as on energy for their home - about $2200 a year.
• There are about 2.5 million light passenger vehicles in New Zealand that each use, on average, over 1,200 litres of fuel a year.
• If every New Zealand motorist used 20% less fuel, NZ would use about 628 million litres less fuel each year - that's like taking 500,000 cars off our roads.
• The top driving team in the 2008 AA ENERGYWISE™ Rally - in which new cars and drivers battle to achieve the lowest running costs over a four-day route - beat the stated fuel consumption of their vehicle by a whopping 40%.

This is good advice. However I do not believe the mainstream TV consumer gets it??

Consultation on pre-1990 forest land allocation announced

The "Sustainable Forestry Bulletin" recently sent me this message that I want to reproduce for you all to read as it is a subject some of you will have an interest in.

 

New consultation on the pre-1990 forest land allocation

The Pre-1990 Forest Land Allocation Plan (Consultation Draft) has been released today for the allocation of New Zealand Units (NZUs) to owners of pre-1990 forest land.

The Consultation Draft supersedes the Draft Forestry Allocation Plan released in October 2008. All submissions received in response to the 2008 Draft Plan were carefully considered. Where supported by the Government, options put forward in previous submissions have been included in the current proposed changes.

A new allocation plan is required because of the changes to the forestry provisions of the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that are proposed in the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill (see Issue 8 of this bulletin for further details).

Note that submissions to the Select Committee considering the Amendment Bill closed on 13 October 2009. Current legislation and regulations still apply until changes are passed into law by Parliament.

The pre-1990 forest land allocation policy

Under the ETS, emissions arising from the deforestation of more than 2 hectares of exotic pre 1990 forest land after 1 January 2008 are automatically included in the ETS unless the land has been exempted. To offset some of the impact of the rules of the ETS, New Zealand Units (NZUs) are to be allocated to eligible owners of pre-1990 exotic forest land.

Eligible landowners will need to decide in the first half of 2010 whether to either:

• apply for an allocation of NZUs; or
• if eligible, apply to have their land exempted from the NZ ETS (under the less-than-50 ha exemption, or the tree weed exemption).

The allocation of NZUs is 18, 39 or 60 units per hectare depending on when and how the landowner acquired the land. All eligible recipients will be transferred part of their entitlement (38%) in Commitment Period 1 (1 January 2008 to 31 December 2012); the balance will be transferred after 2012.

The forestry allocation has significant value. Landowners will not be obliged to apply for either an allocation of NZUs or one of the exemptions but it may be in their financial interests to do so. The Government expects most, if not all, eligible landowners will apply for either an allocation or an exemption.

This consultation

The Consultation Draft of the Pre-1990 Forest Land Allocation Plan that we are seeking feedback on follows the proposed policy and process requirements in the Amendment Bill. Specifically, we seek your feedback on:

• Which landowner should receive an allocation of units if forest land was recently sold?
• When does a shareholding change become an ownership change, and how to determine when ownership was transferred?
• What information should be provided with applications?
• What records must be kept and for how long?

These elements of the Allocation Plan will not be prescribed by the ETS legislation once it is amended.

The public can make submissions on the Consultation Draft until November 22, 2009. For a copy of the consultation draft or to make an online submission, visit www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry, call 0800 CLIMATE (254 628) or email: climatechange@maf.govt.nz.

MAF grants $4 million for new forests

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has granted $4 million to 42 recipients to plant new forests.

MAF Programmes Director Clive Lilley says the third round of the Afforestation Grant Scheme's (AGS) public tender round, which closed on 30 April, saw a total of $4,020,993 granted to projects around New Zealand for the 2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years

"The 42 projects will create 2688 hectares of new forest in 2009 and 2010 at an average price of $1789 per hectare in the high sequestration pool and $650 per hectare in the low sequestration pool.

"It will be allocated to projects in the Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu/Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland regions.

"MAF received 68 tenders in this last round, double the number received in the previous round, indicating very strong interest in the Scheme."

Mr Lilley said since the AGS got underway in June last year over $6.9 million has been allocated to projects totaling over 4,495 hectares.

All available funding has now been allocated for the 2010/11 financial year, which means there will be no tender round for this October.

The next tender round is planned to close on 30 March 2010. Mr Lilley said 16 eligible tenders that have not been able to be approved due to demand exceeding available funding have been held over and may be approved as further funding becomes available.

Next year’s round will be for projects starting in the 2011/12 financial year.

For further information on the AGS or to download an AGS Public Tender Form, see: http://www.maf.govt.nz/climatechange/forestry/initiatives/ags/

The Sustainability Forestry Bulletin

The "Sustainable Forestry Bulletin" is about keeping you and others with an interest in forestry informed. Please feel free to forward it on to others who might be interested.

To subscribe to the Bulletin, please email sustainableforestrybulletin@maf.govt.nz with ‘Subscribe: Sustainable Forestry Bulletin’ in the subject line and your contact details in the body of the email.

If you have any questions relating to anything in this Bulletin or other forestry matters, please email your enquiries to: climatechange@maf.govt.nz or ring 0800 CLIMATE (254 628).

41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 - Green cars

The 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009 will be held from October 23 to November 4, 2009 at Makuhari Messe, Chiba City.

Electric cars take on hybrids at Tokyo show !!

  

Futuristic concept cars, plug-in hybrids, zero-emission electric vehicles and even a hydrogen-powered scooter jostled for the limelight as the Tokyo Motor Show kicked off on Wednesday.

From a super-skinny Nissan electric car that leans when going around bends, to a lightweight Toyota sports car and a Daihatsu vehicle with a design based on a basket, Japanese makers showed off their visions of the future.

While hybrids are still a big feature, electric cars are competing for attention at this year's show as technological breakthroughs in rechargeable batteries bring mass-produced zero emission cars closer to reality.

Foreign makers are almost entirely absent at this year's show, now dominated by the Japanese makers, which are pinning their hopes on growing interest in fuel-efficient automobiles to rescue them from a brutal industry slump.

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, displayed a new version of its electric concept car, the FT-EV II, as well as a Prius plug-in hybrid.

The pioneer of hybrids thinks that such vehicles, which have a petrol engine and an electric motor, will be "the core of the auto market in the future," said Toyota Motor president Akio Toyoda.

But he added: "Toyota is not limiting itself to gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles. The era of reinventing the automobile is nearly upon us."

Toyota also showed off a new lightweight, concept sports car inspired by the iconic Corolla AE86 coupe of the 1980s, along with a Lexus two-seat supercar with a 4.8-litre engine and a price tag of about 375,000 dollars.

Sales of the Lexus, which is set to go into production next year, will be limited to just 500 worldwide.

Nissan meanwhile unveiled a concept car that leans to the side when going around bends. Just 1.1 metres (3 feet 7 inches) wide, the "Land Glider" seats two people -- one in the front and one in the back.

Inspired by motorbikes and glider aircraft, it has tilting wheels that enable it to lean by up to 17 degrees. Nissan says it may start selling the car if there is enough interest.

It will also put its Leaf plug-in electric car on public display for the first time at the show, which opens to general visitors near Tokyo on Saturday and runs until November 4. The mid-sized car will go on sale in late 2010.

"Leaf will make waves in our industry as the world's first affordable zero-emission car," Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn said.

"The time is now for zero emissions. Sustainable mobility is within our reach. We stand on the threshold of a new era in the automotive industry."

While Nissan lags behind its bigger rivals in hybrids, it is one step ahead in electric cars. Toyota has said it aims to launch an electric car by 2012.

From Honda comes the EV-N, a cute new electric concept car with a retro look that can store a one-wheel personal mobility device inside its door.

Fuel cells, which run on hydrogen and emit only water, also make an appearance at the Tokyo show as Honda and Suzuki put on display cars powered by the technology.

There is even a fuel-cell scooter and a fuel-cell wheelchair from Suzuki.

Proponents of hydrogen-powered vehicles argue they are the only true zero emission technology because fossil fuels are often burned to generate electricity, particularly in emerging nations like China and India.

While the high production cost of fuel-cell vehicles poses a significant challenge, some think they may eventually overtake plug-in electric cars.

"We believe that the fuel cell electric vehicle will be the ultimate form for automobiles in the future as it has advantages such as zero carbon dioxide emissions in use, can travel considerable distances without refuelling and can be quickly refuelled," said Honda president Takanobu Ito. 

Free Lunch Seminar - Is Being Environmentally Sustainable Good for Business?

 
How can sustainability initiatives help your business survive under the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme?

NZIM Central has partnered with with Gordon Shaw - Sempre Avanti Consulting to bring you this lunch presentation.

In light of the recent Government announcement on the NZ emission reduction targets for 2020 and ongoing media comment and coverage on this topic, NZIM and Sempre Avanti Consulting presents 2 workshops on the big sustainability issues facing small and medium enterprise.

NZIM invites you to a paper bag lunch information session to find out more about the workshop topics. Gain an overview on business based sustainability and links to economic sustainability, Carbon accounting and the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme.

Date: Wednesday 28 October

Time: 12 Noon - 1:15pm

Venue: NZIM Central,
Level 7 - Lumley House,
    3-11 Hunter Street,
    Wellington

Cost: Complimentary event

You are welcome to bring your lunch with you, tea & coffee will be provided.

Proposed dates for the workshops are:

Wednesday 18 November - 9am - 3pm

Wednesday 2 December - 9am - 3pm

More information on the topics and the costs of the workshops will be available at the teaser presentation.

To RSVP for the paper bag lunch email: penelope_england@nzimcentral.co.nz

 

The countdown is on for COP 15 at the UNFCCC in Copenhagen

 

The countdown is on and preparations are well underway for COP 15 at the UNFCCC in Copenhagen.  In recent days we have seen Japan, China and India all commit to ambitious targets.  Australia and the US are both still to gain legislative support for their targets.  UN negotiations are now back underway in Bangkok.  This is the penultimate negotiating session before COP 15 in Copenhagen in December, at which an ambitious and effective international climate change deal is to be clinched.

New Zealand will present its ETS to this meeting!

At a press conference held midway through the Talks in Bangkok (2 Oct), Yvo de Boer spoke of encouraging signals that the Talks can deliver the tools and rules essential to a successful climate change deal in Copenhagen. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

What do you think of the speech? Is it all talk and will there be action!! Let us know your thoughts!

COP15 Copenhagen 7-18 December 2009

All the talk is on the Copenhagen climate chnage talks in December 2009.

What are they?

The sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are open to Parties of the Convention and Observer States (Governments), the United Nations System and observer organizations duly admitted by the Conference of the Parties.

Parties: Governments nominate their respective representatives to participate and negotiate at the sessions of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. This may include ministers, negotiators, and those who the Governments consider are necessary to achieve their goals during the sessions. Eg. New Zealand

CMP
The Conference of the Parties (COP) serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. This is referred to as the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP).

Conference of the Parties

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the "supreme body" of the Convention, that is, its highest decision-making authority. It is an association of all the countries that are Parties to the Convention.

The COP is responsible for keeping international efforts to address climate change on track. It reviews the implementation of the Convention and examines the commitments of Parties in light of the Convention’s objective, new scientific findings and experience gained in implementing climate change policies. A key task for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention.

I hope this helps?

ETS 101 - a starting guide

There is much debate in NZ on the proposed NZETS. We must remember that an ETS is not the total solution to all of the emission problems nor is it the only response.

To follow is a 101 guide to ETS.

It has always been our position that being sustainable is good for business! This is now bearing fruit as there is a direct positive economic impact related to the cost of carbon under and NZETS.

For example if the power price is set to rise in the NZETS then being more energy efficient will save you money! We think this is a "no brainer"!

Emissions Trading

 

Emissions trading is a policy instrument available to mitigate GHG emissions. It involves putting a limit on the quantity of GHG emissions that can be emitted to the atmosphere over a set period of time – the “emissions cap”

 

Government policy documents state that emissions trading schemes are internationally recognised as an equitable, effective and efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Emitters of carbon will need to purchase carbon credits. As carbon is emitted, the credits that a business holds/processes will need to be surrendered, effectively “paying” for the greenhouse gasses produced.

 

GHG emissions are usually converted to their carbon dioxide equivalent [CO₂e]

 

Trading participants can then purchase and sell emission allowances in order to meet their emissions cap.

 

Emissions trading operates like a commodity market where the price is determined by the Market based on the relative supply.

 

The price of the emission allowance [the carbon price] is the financial incentive to limit emissions.

 

Emissions trading alone will not be sufficient to achieve the global reductions in GHG emissions that are required to stabilise atmospheric GHG concentrations, but ETS is the principal instrument that governments are employing in the first instance.

 

Any ETS system has advantages and disadvantages. Potential advantages of an ETS include:

 

• The guarantee of a specific emissions reduction [abatement] outcome which is set by an emission cap
• Can lead to the use of innovation and business responses to reduce the resource intensity and affect of business on GHG emissions

 

Potential disadvantages can include:

 

• The carbon price is not known in advance
• Can be costly to establish
• If free rebates and permits are offered then economic distortions can occur

 

Cap and Trade

 

New Zealand has chosen a cap and trade system. This involves setting a specific limit (a cap) on the quantity of emissions that can be released to the atmosphere from a specified group of emission sources over a given time period.

 

For an ETS to be effective and efficient as a mitigation instrument the trading  system should cover some of the following key principles:

 

• Maximum emissions coverage
• Provide a clear market incentive to reduce emissions
• Be embodied in long term government policy
• Maximise administration efficiencies to reduce compliance costs
• Have a clear set of standards that allow for accurate emissions accounting
• Provide economic efficiency and equity

 

What is the ETS

 

Under an ETS, prices are established for units to emit greenhouse gases. It is hoped that these prices influence decisions by producers, consumers and investors, in their decision making around the reduction of emissions and to look at viable alternatives.

 

Put more simply, essentially, if you create emissions, say by using fossil fuels by driving your car e.g. petroleum, it costs you units (so called carbon credits). If you create a carbon sink (plant trees) that then soak up carbon emissions, you create credit units that can be traded.

If you have any questions or comments let us know?

Milutin Milankovitch the father of climate change research??

I have been undertaking some research for some upcoming seminars I will be conduction on Sustainability, Climate Change and the NZETS.

I must have missed that class at college about the Milankovitch cycles so I thought that the reads of this BLOG may also be interested too??

Milankovich Cycles

 

The Milankovich cycles refers to changes in the earth’s orbit and orientation toward the sun and have long term important bearings on the earth’s climate.

 

Astronomer Milutin Milankovitch [1879 – 1958] developed the mathematical formulas upon which these orbital variations are based. He hypothesized that when some parts of the cyclic variations are combined and occur at the same time, they are responsible for major changes to the earth's climate (even ice ages). Milankovitch estimated climatic fluctuations over the last 450,000 years and described cold and warm periods.

 

The Serbian astrophysicist Milutin Milankovitch is best known for developing one of the most significant theories relating Earth motions and long-term climate change. Born in 1879 in the rural village of Dalj (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, today located in Croatia), Milankovitch attended the Vienna Institute of Technology and graduated in 1904 with a doctorate in technical sciences. After a brief stint as the chief engineer for a construction company, he accepted a faculty position in applied mathematics at the University of Belgrade in 1909—a position he held for the remainder of his life.

 

You may have missed this science class at school and may not be aware that  the axis of the earth pointing toward the North Star (Polaris) is at an angle of 23.45° and that the earth is approximately 91-94 million miles from the sun, these facts are not absolute or constant. The interaction between the earth and sun, known as orbital variation, changes and has changed throughout the 4.6 billion year history of our planet.

 

Orbit Variations

 

About every 100,000 years the earth’s orbit around the sun varies from nearly circular to elliptical (elongated). This has an effect on the amount of the suns radiation that strikes the earth. When circular the variations are around 6% between summer and winter. However in an elliptical phase the variation can be 20-30%!

 

You may think that most objects in space that orbit something else move in circles, but that isn't the case. Although some objects follow circular orbits, most orbits are shaped more like "stretched out" circles or ovals. Mathematicians and astronomers call this oval shape an ellipse.

 

The eccentricity of Earth's orbit is very small, so Earth's orbit is nearly circular. Earth's orbital eccentricity is less than 0.02. The orbit of Pluto is the most eccentric of any planet in our Solar System. Pluto's orbital eccentricity is almost 0.25.

 

The Sun is not at the center of an elliptical orbit. It is a little off to one side, at a point called a "focus" of the ellipse. Because of this offset the planet moves closer to and further away from the Sun every orbit. The close point in each orbit is called perihelion. The far away point is called aphelion. If an orbit has a large eccentricity, the difference between the perihelion distance and the aphelion distance will also be large. Earth is only 3% further from the Sun at aphelion than it is at perihelion. Pluto's aphelion distance from the Sun is 66% greater than its perihelion distance.

 

 

 

Axis Tilt

 

 

About every 42,000 years the tilt of the earth’s axis ranges from 21.8 to 24.4 degrees. This tilt determines the angle of solar radiation that hits the earth’s surface.  At present we are around 23.5 degrees.

 

The Earth's axis is tilted from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic by 23.45°. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter. Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are oriented towards the Sun at different times of the year.

 

Summer is warmer than winter (in each hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter and also because the days are much longer than the nights during the summer. During the winter, the Sun's rays hit the Earth at an extreme angle, and the days are very short. These effects are due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.

 

Orientation

 

About every 22,000 years the orientation of the earth’s axis changes between the Pole star and the Vega star. This determines what time summer and winter occurs!

 

The term "Earth orientation" refers to the direction in space of axes which have been defined on the Earth. It is usually measured using five quantities: two angles which identify the direction of the Earth's rotation axis within the Earth, an angle describing the rotational motion of the Earth, and two angles which characterize the direction of the Earth's rotation axis in space. With these coordinates, the orientation of the Earth in space is fully described.

 

 

Pole Star

 

A pole star is a visible star, especially a prominent one that is approximately aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation; that is, a star whose apparent position is close to one of the celestial poles, and which lies (approximately) directly overhead when viewed from the Earth's North Pole or South Pole. There are potentially both northern and southern pole stars, but whether there is either depends on the current orientation of the Earth's axis, which moves over time (see precession of the equinoxes). The term the Pole Star usually refers to the star Polaris (colloquially referred to as the North Star), which is the current northern pole star.

 

[WRI's EarthTrends Delivered] Climate and Energy Charts and Figures

I recently signed up with the WRI's earth trends service which I have previously mentioned in this BLOG.

I have received my first update and wanted to share one set of data with you.

Global CO2 Emissions Growth in Select Sectors: 2000-2005

Total global emissions grew 12.7% between 2000 and 2005, an average of 2.4% a year. However, individual sectors grew at rates between 40% and near zero percent, and there are substantial differences in sectoral growth rates between developed and developing countries.

This chart shows emissions growth by region in four select sectors: electricity & heat, transport, industry, and building use. Emissions growth in every sector is primarily attributable to developing countries, which now account for the majority of emissions from electricity & heat, as well as industry. However, developed countries still account for a majority of emissions in the transport and building use sectors.

These figures are quite sobering. At a time when there is still lots of debate here in NZ about the implementation of the NZETS these figures show why every country must do something to reduce consumption, resource intensity and the release of CO2e emissions.

The following graph is courtesy of the WRI service.

EU greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.5% in 2008 - can NZ do the same?

EU greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.5% in 2008

31 August 2009 - Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU declined for the fourth year running last year, according to preliminary data released by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on Monday. Emissions were down by 1.5% across the bloc and 1.3% in the old EU-15.

This brought EU-27 emissions to 10.7% below 1990 levels, more than halfway to the EU's legally-binding target of a 20% cut by 2020. In the EU-15, emissions in 2008 were 6.2% below 1990 levels. This confirms the region is well on track to reach its Kyoto target, said environment commissioner Stavros Dimas.

But Mr Dimas acknowledged that part of the reduction comes from the economic slowdown, which significantly brought down production levels and related emissions. He urged member states to swiftly implement the EU's climate and energy package to continue this downward trend.

Earlier this year, the European Commission reported a 3% drop in industrial emissions of greenhouse gases in 2008. Analysts primarily attributed the decrease to the recession. Last week, a report showed the world's largest companies are unlikely deliver cuts recommended by scientists.

This is the first time the EEA has published provisional data for the previous year so early. Emissions data for 2007 were only published three months ago. EU emissions fell by 1.2% that year compared to 0.3% in 2006. A final report on the 2008 data will be published in June 2010.

Internationally, ongoing climate negotiations are making slow progress.During a meeting in Bonn in August, the UNFCCC released figures showing pledges made by rich nations would only amount to a 15-21% cut. Governments will continue their discussions at a G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, the US, on 24-25 September.

Japan's Democratic Party, which swept to power on Sunday, has pledged to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. The previous government had proposed an 8% reduction .

What can we learn form what the EU is achieving?

My view is that they took the pain and got an ETS up and running early and now they are reaping the rewards!

Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival - Wellington NZ

MEDIA RELEASE

3 September 2009

THE PROOF THAT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS IS GOOD BUSINESS HITS THE BIG SCREEN

An award-winning film showing what is possible when a multi-national company, with operations in New Zealand, commits to a more sustainable path, will open the Wellington season of the Reel Earth Environmental film festival.

So Right, So Smart, described by judges at this year's Reel Earth Awards as 'a truly inspirational film that should be required viewing for all politicians and captains of industry' will screen at the Paramount on 1 October.

The film presents a good news story at a time when business needs good news stories.

So Right, So Smart tells the story of how, in an epiphanal moment, Ray Anderson, founder of the hugely successful Interface Corporation, realised the implications of his company's way of operating and decided to take a different path. He set about changing their business practices and setting a goal of having no environmental footprint by the year 2020. In the process, he realised that the changes he was making were actually very good for business.

Anderson's philosophy reaches across the company's many international operations, including here in New Zealand.

Managing Director of Interface NZ, Robb Donze, says that the key to making better business practices work is leadership from the top.

'Ray has set the bar very high for the company globally. Interface NZ works hard to lower its own environmental footprint here in New Zealand. All products are certified as climate neutral. Our entire footprint locally is offset through Landcare's carboNZero program.

'We are active members of the NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development and are sponsors of the Green Building Council's Interior Fit Out Tool. We take our leadership position very seriously and continue to show the business case for sustainability by our own example.'

Robb Donze will speak at the screening, giving the audience a chance to hear first hand what worked and what is necessary to successfully implement sustainable business practices in New Zealand.

So Right, So Smart shows how ecologically sound business practices foster better business in general, using examples such as Patagonia and the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. The film features insights from world experts such as David Suzuki, Paul Hawken and Lester Brown.

So Right, So Smart won Best Feature Film at this year's Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival Awards.

The Wellington Season of the Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival is hosted by the Wellington Branch of Forest and Bird and sponsored by Graphic Press.

The Festival runs from the 1 - 15 October and features films on environmental issues and the natural environment. More details are at

www.reelearth.org.nz

Ends

CONTACT - Vicki Connor, Forest and Bird, Wellington Branch, by e-mail until 8 September envirofilms@gmail.com <

mailto:envirofilms@gmail.com

> , after 8 September 027 222 2943

WHAT: So Right, So Smart film screening and talk by Robb Donze, Managing Director Interface NZ

WHEN: Thursday 1 October, 5.30pm (screening at 6pm)

WHERE: The Paramount, Courtenay Place, Wellington.

TICKETS: In advance from the Paramount or by e-mailing envirofilms@gmail.com <

mailto:envirofilms@gmail.com>

Tickets are $20 and include a glass of Yealands wine, an award winning boutique vineyard committed to sustainable viticulture.

Making the environment sexy! The Age of Stupid Movie

Did you know that the producer of the movie THE AGE OF STUPID is a kiwi? Lizzie Gillett cut her teeth in Dunedin.

Will this movie be the next Inconvenient Truth?

From my research it looks like they are using some strong facts and information as a basis for the movie.

The Age of Stupidis the new four-year epic from McLibel director Franny Armstrong. Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

I will check the movie out in the next week and post my review. Please post a comment and review if you have seen the movie.

Calculating your carbon footprint

If you are a regular visitor to this blog you will know that we have covered this topic in detail.

We prefer to call carbon footprints GHG emission footprints to take the focus away from carbon only.

Today I visited the WRI World Resources Institute's web site and came across this interesting posting on carbon foot print calculators and a comparison between them. This is interesting reading.

The article states:

Not too long ago, the concept of a Carbon Footprint was a foreign one. But as global climate change theory has gained traction in the general public, carbon footprinthas become common lingo. Online calculators which account for ones personal carbon emissions have emerged as a popular tool for the climate-minded to track and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These calculators are so prevalent that if you search Google, you'll find a wide selection waiting for your personal energy and transportation data. Here's the problem though: not all carbon footprint calculators are created equal. So to help you parse out the good from the bad, and assess the accuracy of a quick and dirty approach, I tested nine different calculators.

My advice to anyone in New Zealand that if you use a online calculator find one that uses NZ emission factors.

The following link should assist: Sempre Avanti Consulting

 

Carpooling - Greener, cheaper and more fun?? Maybe?

In this mornings Dominion Post print edition I read an article on page A2 about a new Wellington based car pool scheme.

One of the factors of reinstating the car pooling system is the ongoing problems with the regions commuter trains!

The article tells me that 700 people have signed up for the system. How may vehicle journeys does this take off the regions roads?

It is a fine balancing act between the potential of more vehicle trips as a result of commuter fleeing the trains! But at the current moment who want to use our truly 3rd world system?

I comment the Regional Council for the Let's carpool web site- however I ask the questions is this not the same regional council that has progressively let our trains get run down thru lack of investment!

Roll on 2010-11 for the arrival of our new trains and good luck to those trying car pooling. Let us all know what it is like if you use the service?

2020 or 2040 what should the target be for NZ

It is interesting times when it comes to the announcement of New Zealand's 2020 and 2040 emission reduction targets.

The Government has strongly rejected the Greenpeace Sign On initiative!

Here is some information that you may find of interest? It is about 2050 targets in the USA.

This is reproduced courtesy of WBCSD and Greenwire

U.S. can cut half its transportation emissions by 2050 -- report

The United States can cut greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in half by 2050 with strategies ranging from cutting speed limits to imposing road pricing, according to a report released today by federal agencies and environmental and industry groups.

Examining about 50 transportation strategies, the report found transportation emissions could be reduced 24 percent by 2050 by acting to change travel behavior and land-use patterns. The emissions reduction hit 47 percent by adding road pricing techniques, ranging from pay-as-you-go insurance to charging Americans for every mile driven.

The report found environmental gains from advances in fuel efficiency would be mostly undermined by increased travel and population, making it important to address the efficiency of the transportation sector by investing in public transit, land-use planning and other low-carbon alternatives.

John Porcari, deputy secretary at the Department of Transportation, said the report shows that lawmakers looking to recast the nation's transportation system to curb emissions and fuel consumption will need to look for combinations of policy changes. "There is no magic bullet," he said. "There is no single strategy that can be pursued to help us turn our corner. We need to look at a number of options."

Transportation accounts for roughly 28 percent of the United States' greenhouse gas emissions, and the sector has been one of the fastest-growing in the past two decades -- representing nearly half of the nation's total increase in greenhouse emissions since 1990.

The sweeping energy and climate measure that the House passed last month, H.R. 2454, would require carbon dioxide emissions to drop 17 percent below 2005 levels and a total of 83 percent by 2050. The study released today finds that making the transportation sector more efficient is critical to meeting those goals.

"We can't get there from here without reducing emissions from transportation," said Colin Peppard, climate and infrastructure policy director for Environmental Defense Fund, one of the groups that commissioned the report.

The report was written by consulting firm Cambridge Systematics. Its sponsors include DOT, the American Public Transportation Association and Shell Oil Co.

MAKES FOR INTERESTING READING!

Business owners are still focused on SUSTAINABILITY

Sempre Avanti Consulting was an exhibitor at the Bizzone Business Expo in Wellington last week.

It was pleasing for us to engage with numerious passionate business people and business owners who have a focus on sustainability.

In the current recession it would be easy to follow the Governments lead and put "sustainability" issues on the back burner! We have always maintained that sustainability is good for business!

The business owners we spoke with agree. We had a number of visitors at our stand who wanted more information about carbon accounting, emissions inventories, waste audits and how to be more environmentally sustainable which leads to economic sustainability.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE SAC STAND AT THE EXPO

We had a number of visitors ask us about the carboncounted system - more information can be found here

We look forward to talking in more detail with those who visited our stand that have requested more information.

Envirostep - could you use this tool? Would you use this?

 The Ministry of Economic Development has developed a entry level environmental measurement tool called ENVIROSTEP.

The web site states:

Envirostep is a free, entry-level environmental management tool for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand. It was developed by the Ministry of Economic Development in collaboration with a number of other contributors (see panel to the right), and provides users with:

• An environmental performance score & profile.
• Recommendations (to reduce operating costs, environmental impacts & risk).
• An action plan (to implement selected recommendations).
• Over 300 links to other environmental tools, service providers & further information.

If you are a regular reader of this BLOG you will have read about GHG footprint certification, greenwashing and carbon credits.

We have not signed up to Envirostep as we use the CarbonCounted system to measure our GHG footprint.

If you are a small business would you use this system? Let our reads know what you think?

If you use Envirostep please give us some feedback!

Hyundai introduces the Elantra LPI

If you have read this BLOG for some time you know that we have written about the pros and cons of Hybrid cars.

It is interesting to see that Hybrid cars are one of the biggest selling segments in Japan.

I was made aware recently of a new Hybrid model being produced by Hyundaithat rather than being a petrol electric hybrid it is a LPG electric Hybrid. Unlike conventional hybrids (the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight), the Hyundai has a liquid-petroleum gas engine (with a 1.6-liter displacement) mated to its electric motor. The motor runs on a lithium-ion battery pack.

This got me thinking of the glory days of LPGin New Zealand when you could apply to the Ministry of Energy and get a loan to convert to LPG. I remember doing just that - I had a big Valiant Regal straight 6 and converted it toLPG.

When I visited my local petrol station the other day I noticed that you could still fill up on LPG.

So with this new models being released by Hyundai it got me thinking would this be a great model to introduce here?

The issue with Hybrid vehicles at present is the price differential between standard petrol models and Hybrids.

Having said that maybe this model would be an excellent choice for the Taxi industry?

Soil organic carbon pools in the northern circumpolar permafrost region

Sometime ago I signed up to receive updates from the Global Carbon Project GCP.

They sent me an email the other day which lead me to some information that you may find interesting.

You may be interested in a new assessment just published on the quantity of organic carbon buried in the permafrost regions of the Northern Hemisphere, a key vulnerability to future climate change.

Please check:

http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/news/SoilOrganicPoolsinPermafrost.html

Press releases:

English: http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSSP458218

Spanish: http://lta.reuters.com/article/topNews/idLTASIE56005N20090701

Chinese: http://cn.reuters.com/article/CNEnvNews/idCNChina-4893620090701?mlt_click=Tertiary+Navigation+CN_36_Static+module+_sec1-priCon-m0_News

The link starts with: The vast amount of carbon stored in the Arctic and boreal regions of the world is more than double that previously estimated, according to a study published this week. The new estimate is over 1.5 trillion tons of frozen carbon, about twice as much carbon as contained in the atmosphere......

READ MORE HERE

So what do you think? Are we as a planet stuffed if more of the permafrost thaws out?

What can we do? Will the meetings in December 2009 sort it out?

The jury is out on this one!

 

 

Come and visit us at the Bizzone Bussiness Expo in Wellington 22-24 July

Green is Good BLOG together with Onespec and Sempre Avanti Consulting will be at stand #117 at the Bizzone Business Expo at the TSB Bank Arena from 22-24 July.

Please pop by and say hello.

We would love you to visit us (look out for us at stand 117 in the main hall) and to have a good look around the expo. Make sure you enter our card draw to win a new iPod.

We can offer you a complimentary ticket to the event by CLICKING HERE.

More details on the expo can be found at http://www.bizzone.com/ The information below gives you a quick overview of the Expo.

Why you should attend?

Increased sales, smarter marketing, tighter cashflow, compliance made easy, staffing solutions, access to finance, debt collection, pricing strategy, business planning, strategy, online business, IT, cost reduction, investment advice, insurance…

Get support for your business from

New Zealand

’s best

Including 40 free seminars, specialised zones, free business mentoring, free smart marketing expertise and much more.

For your complimentary guest ticket to the Bizzone Business Expos register online and automatically go in the draw to win a $100,000 Smart Marketing Prize 

www.bizzone.com/guestof/exhibitor

Put these dates in your diary now!

Wellington

– TSB Arena

22^ndJuly Wednesday 9-4pm

23rd July Thursday 9-8pm

24th July Friday 9-4pm 

Carbon Certification - good or bad for consumers? You be the judge!

If you have read this BLOG before you will know that we have posted information about carbon certification, carbon credits, green washing and the need for consumers to understand more fully any carbon neutral claims.

Recently the local cab company here in Wellington - Wellington Combined Cabs have gone certified carbon neutral by using the carboNZero certification system.

As a user of taxis I have witnessed first had that changes this cab company has made to its fleet make up. First they allowed hybrids in the fleet and then diesel vehicles and now there is a total focus on emissions efficient vehicles and vehicles that can use alternative fuels. Yesterday I saw a Hyundai i30 diesel on the cab rank on Lambton Quay.

The Wellington Combined summary of certification document makes interesting reading for any user of taxis. I suggest you consider the exclusions from the GHG emissions inventory and how this might apply to you or your business?

It will be interesting to see how another Wellington Cab Company "Green Cabs" responds to Wellington Combined marketing strategy?

As we have always said the use of taxis needs to meet the "fit for purpose test" and you need to consider a number of factors when selecting your preferred taxi suppler.

To follow is the latest marketing material from Wellington Combined on its carboNZero certification.

Oil vs. Sustainability! UAE earmarks $136 mln to fund green energy agency

I have just read an interesting press release:

Reuters, 22 June 2009 - The UAE is ready to spend $136 million to fund the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) if its bid to host the agency's headquarters is successful, a senior official said on Monday.

The world's third-largest oil exporter wants to place itself at the forefront of developments that may shape the future energy industry and hosting IRENA was part of that plan, Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of Abu Dhabi's state-owned green energy initiative Masdar told Reuters in an interview.

"Oil exporting countries can either see renewable energy as a threat or as an opportunity and we know that this is the future so that's why we are committed to IRENA," Jaber said. "If we win, the Abu Dhabi government will fund the agency with $136 million until 2015."

READ MORE .........

The information about the IRENA makes interesting background reading.

Do you think the UAE is the right place for this agency?

We hear a lot about "peak oil" and the end of oil as we know it!

I find it interesting that their is now engagement by oil producers on green energy issues. In my view this raises some challenges about oil ethics and the commitment to find sustainable energy solutions for the generations to come?

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK????

The good oil! NZ Olive oil that is!! (knowing where your food comes from)

Next in the current series of blog posts on food is my very favorite a post about the good oil! OLIVE OIL. New Zealand olive oil. Local olive oil, oil grown and made with tender care in the Wairarapa. (in this photo - an olive picked from the tree by Anne)

I love and use olive oil a lot. I have developed a taste for premium NZ Olive oil.

The other day I met Dr Anne Opie at Moore Wilson's in the city. Anne was tasting oil that she had produced.

I loved it - the oil in question is Trio organic olive oil.

Anne and husband Brian have an olive grove in Greytown. As Anne and I talked it was evident we had a mutual passion for the good oil, food source issues and sustainability. I sent some information to Anne and she invited me over to the Wairarapa to have a tour of her olive grove.

(By the way I left Moor Wilson with a 375ml bottle of Trio oil)

On Saturday 20 June I got to visit the Opie's olive grove to learn more about where my good oil comes from, how it is produced and how it gets to market.

To follow is a photo essay of the tour. (you will note that some friends joined us for this great opportunity)

This is what the olive grove looks like.

There are 500 olive trees on this grove. The 2009 vintage produced a great oil from a small harvest in a difficult growing year. The result was an excellent return rate of 17.8%.

This is Dr Anne Opie (our host) Anne is very passionate about her olives! I found it amazing to meet the person who grows and nurtures the oils and overseas the transformation into world class extra virgin olive oil.

Anne's olives are certified organic. This causes one issue for production. The certified organic oil press is in TeHoro on the Kapiti Coast so the harvested olive has a long drive for pressing.

All of the walking about gave us all an appetite so we all had lunch together as YES WE GOT TO SAMPLE THE 2009 OIL! Together with last years.

 2008 oil on the left, 2009 on the right. As you can see the 2009 oil is very different with a great Green colour and powerful pepper aftertaste. I found the 2009 oil to be fantastic and used it on top of my soup!

We all had an amazing trip and tour. I thought I had a good understanding of the good oil. However post visit I have an enhanced awareness of the different vintages, storage times, types of olives and how much the growers passion can stamp its mark on the final product.

Trio oil is a fine example of grow local and eat local!

A big thank you to Anne and Brian for hosting us!

Knowing where your food comes from!

Yesterday I had the opportunity and pleasure to travel to the Wairarapa to visit Jackie and Tony's niche walnut production.

They live on a property that has a number of walnut trees and as a hobbie they are producing around 200kg of walnuts per season.

They do not produce commercial quantities but enough to share with friends and the local community.

I was amazed at their passion for what they produce and for the quality of their nuts.

We came away with a 1kg bag of nuts and with a better knowledge of how walnuts are produced. By the way these freshly picked and dried nuts taste amazing! Much better than what you get in the supermarket.

To follow are some pictures of the visit.

They also have two pigs

Walnut trees

Walnut in shells on drying rack

 

Jackie (in orange) showing us the tool they use to pick up the walnuts from the ground

Commercial nut cracker!

The final product - Yum

350.org can we all make a difference???

I came across 350.org on twitter the other day.

Dear World,

This is an invitation to help build a movement--to take one day and use it to stop the climate crisis.

On October 24, we will stand together as one planet and call for a fair global climate treaty. United by a common call to action, we'll make it clear: the world needs an international plan that meets the latest science and gets us back to safety.

This movement has just begun, and it needs your help.

I would like to suggest you check this out and see if this is something you want to get involved with?

Please let me know your thoughts? I believe than any activity that raises the profile of global warming and climate change is good. It creates discussion and debate which is a good thing.

Will Mr Chu be the next big player in the global fight for saving the planet?

Mr Chu was chosen by President Obama to head up the Department of energy and be Obama's advise on Climate Change and Sustainability and Energy Issues.

You should check out the Department of Energy's web site as it has some great resources to call on.

Mr Chu is quoted here inNZ today and tells us all to paint the roof of our house white as positive action in the fight for climate change. Do you agree or do you think this is crazy science?

If Mr Chu is going to play a major part in the upcoming meetings in Europe at the end of the year then I suggest you check this guy out.

I am not sure if you can call him a science geek, green guru or not and I have not made up my mind on if this guy can make a difference and get the USA to play a leadership role in the post Kyoto world?

Let me know what you think?

40% cut by 2020? Do you agree and will it work?

Has anyone visited the "Sign On the word needs us" web site yet? If you have I am keen to find out what you think and to see if you signed up and why?

Greenpeace NZ is behind this mainstream attempt to get our Government to engage on a tougher target on New Zealand Greenhouse gas emission reduction target.

From my understanding of this initiative the goal is to get the powers that be to acknowledge that a 40% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020 is better than 50% by 2050. They make some good points and have a range of high profile people endorsing the position.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I think that no matter what your opinions of greenpeace are they are making some noise and generating interest in this issue that under National seems to have been brushed under the carpet.

If you have read this BLOG you will no that the position we have is that the delayed ETS and the economic slow down is not a excuse to do nothing!

Our stance has not changed - GREEN IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS and being sustainable in business is common sense and on so many fronts.

If you run a business then there is NO WAY that you do not want to save money on the bottom line! By taking sustainable business practices and calling them process review and improvements you can save money and become more sustainable. Remember economic sustainability is the name of the game.

So I congratulate greenpeace for raising the awareness of this issue and look forward to you comments on your visits to the sign-on site.

Tax breaks for low emission vehicles - we should follow this initiative

With the debate raging here in NZ today on the delayed implementation of the NZETS it was great to read that the Japanese Government has reduced taxes on low emission vehicles in Japan from 1 April 2009 and there has been a corresponding increase in sales of low emission vehicles.

What do you think of this initiative?

I think it is a great example of Government Policy stimulating growth while encouraging the purchase and use of low emission vehicles! This is an example of transformational sustainability in action.

This is a great initiative that the NZ policy makers should be considering here as well.

To follow is some background to this story from the WBCSD site or CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL STORY.

Japanese carmakers are reporting a sharp rebound in sales in their home market this month after the government cut taxes on lower-emission vehicles.

Toshiyuki Shiga, chief operating officer at Nissan, Japan's third-largest car producer, said Tuesday orders at Nissan's dealerships had risen 30 per cent so far in May compared with a year earlier.

Mr Shiga credited the “eco-car tax break” for the improvement. The tax break came into effect on April 1 and can cut the cost of the most fuel-efficient vehicles by several hundred thousand yen, or several thousand dollars.

If nationwide vehicle sales rise for the full month, it will be the first such increase since last July.

United Nations World Environment Day (WED) 2009 celebrations

I have been sent the following information that may be of interest. Follow the link to some cool downloadable banners.

Also if you are on twitter then start following the UNEP.

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to invite you to participate in the United Nations World Environment Day (WED) 2009 celebrations. While the main WED activities will take place in this year’s host country, Mexico, hundreds of additional worldwide celebrations will also be organized making this a truly global event.

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change.' It reflects the urgency for nations to ‘seal the deal’ at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year. It also raises a call for everyone to get involved, rethink actions and ways that result in wastage and heavy greenhouse gas emissions, and adopt a greener lifestyle.

We have a number of easy-to-use campaign materials which can be downloaded on the website at http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/content/downloads.asp.
These include the WED logo, posters and several flash animations including a new feature, the Daily do something Tips. These are useful ideas on how to easily green your daily routine, and once posted to your website, will link to a page on the WED 2009 website that lists daily tips in the countdown to WED. We request you to post this or the Use Less / Act More flash animation banner on your website to help promote World Environment Day to your stakeholders.

Further, we have started a global online tree-planting campaign for WED on Twitter. UNEP has pledged to plant 100,000 trees for 100,000 followers --or one for every follower if we can achieve more than 100,000-- by World Environment Day, 5 June. This effort supports the Billion Tree Campaign’s goal to plant a total of seven billion trees- one for every person on the planet- by year’s end. We ask that supporters start following at www.twitter.com/UNEPandYou. Add your voice and twitter loudly!

I sincerely hope that you will support World Environment Day and that you will also encourage your wide circle of contacts to publicize and participate both online and on the ground.
As our WED slogan says, ‘Your Planet Needs You!’ We count on your valuable support to help spread the message and mobilize action on this important day for the environment. If you have any questions or requests, please feel free to contact me.

Your support is highly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Emmakate

Will the Electric Car take off in NZ???

I have been on a few plane trips lately and when you are on-board with no cell phone calls you can chill out, listen to sounds on the ipod or read? On a recent trip between the Gold Coast and Melbourne on Virgin Blue I read the in-flight magazine "Voyeur" May 2009.

There was a cool article on Twitter but the one I like the most was on page 74 and it was about Evan Thornley the CEO of Better Place in Australia.

What Better Place Aussie are up to is the introduction of a nationwide electric car battery refilling system. The point that got me was the innovative way that the are goings to have 1000's of battery exchange stations that will overcome the battery life issue with electric cars.

They are also working with the power companies so that the batteries are recharged with 100% renewable energy such as electricity from wind power.

What I like about this idea is the way innovative thinking has helped overcome the current short-comings of electric cars and they way that the Better Place system is a subscription service and is supporting and encouraging the development of electric cars.

Australia has the advantage of it size geography and population to make a system like this work.

Could this kind of system work in NZ?

1. Would we have the numbers to make it viable?

2. Would it get the support from the current government?

What do you think? I believe that we can learn from systems like this and come up with innovative ways of applying a system like this in New Zealand.

The power is in our hands. We the consumers can demand it and we can also make it happen!

NZETS diagram

While undertaking some research on the NZETS I came across the following diagram that I found very useful and want to share this with you. It comes from the Climate Change Solutions web site.

The Aussie Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - Will NZ Follow?

In the last week the Australian's have released more detail on their Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which is being lead by the Department of Climate Change.

With New Zealand about to review its own delay ETS will we follow the Aussies? Here are some key points from the Aussie announcements.

The Aussie Scheme Cap is set at 60% reduction in GHG emissions from 2000 levels by 2050.

All liable entities will be required to report the emissions for which they are liable under the Aussie scheme.

An Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority is to be established.

In general the Aussie scheme obligations will apply to entities with facilities that emit GHG gases of 25,000 tonnes of CO2e or more per year and to entities that supply certain fuels and synthetic GHG's.

Initially there will be two types of eligible emissions units in the Aussie scheme - Australian emission units and certain units created under the Kyoto protocol.

A price cap per tonne of carbon is established. The cap is in place from 2010-11 to 2014-15. It will commence at $40 and rise by 5% in real terms each year.

More in-depth information can be found in the link above.

There are some good parts of the Aussie scheme and I would hope that we will copy some of the good points and debate and consider others.