Polytechnic outlines plans for becoming carbonneutral
MORE efficient buildings, better management of waste and largescale tree planting are some of the ways by which the Otago Polytechnic intends to become carbonneutral by 2030.
The polytechnic is the first tertiary institution in the country to join the Climate Leaders Coalition.
Sixty businesses from Wellington Zoo to Air New Zealand have pledged to reduce emissions and play a leadership role in New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions economy.
The coalition aims to meet New Zealand’s environmental commitments under the United Nations’ Paris Agreement.
The polytechnic’s sustainable practice goals for 2021 include 80% waste reduction, 30% energy reduction in existing buildings, and planting 3000 trees.
However, sustainable practice adviser Ray O’Brien said the contribution the polytechnic made to improving the environment was not limited to its physical surroundings.
All graduates of the polytechnic ‘‘should be sustainable practitioners in their fields’’, he said.
‘‘All our graduates are out there influencing other people.
‘‘We’re not just talking about and being aware of issues. What we do has an impact.’’
He was ‘‘very happy’’ the polytechnic had been accepted into the coalition and hoped other universities and polytechnics would be inspired to apply to join.
Chief operating officer Philip Cullen said the polytechnic was ‘‘in the process of a significant campus redevelopment’’.
‘‘We are moving from older, less efficient buildings to modern buildings with sustainability and carbon management at the core of their design.’’
When it came to the tree planting, the trees would not necessarily need to be close to the polytechnic, and the polytechnic was in preliminary talks with the Dunedin City Council to find a suitable piece of land.