A mission to cut emissions

The seven Crown Research Institutes and Callaghan Innovation have been working individually in this area for some years and have come together for a week-long series of online workshops to share best practice and insights on how to get to net carbon zero in their operations as quickly as possible.

Workshop co-ordinator Dr Roger Robson-Williams, of Plant & Food Research, said the initiative will enable the organisations to pool their knowledge and experience and achieve more in their greenhouse gas emission programmes.

“Together the eight organisations employ about 4300 staff and have offices and research facilities in more than 50 locations around the country. The workshops will be practical how-to guides focusing on specific areas of our business operation,” he said.

Climate Change Minister James Shaw, who spoke at the opening session of the workshop series, said he was delighted Crown Research Institutes and Callaghan Innovation had come together to work out how we can cut emissions in the Government’s science sector.

“The window of opportunity to clean up our act and stave off a climate catastrophe is vanishingly small, but it is still there for the taking,” he said.

Each of the online workshops will focus on an aspect of the operational challenges the eight organisations face in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The programme includes case studies on transitioning to net carbon zero.

It Includes examples of programmes to reduce emissions from staff commuting and business travel, from procurement and waste, from land-based production of food and fibre, and from smart building and construction decisions.

“As well as improving awareness, the workshops will enable sharing of approaches, pitfalls and successes and strengthen our commitment to be carbon neutral,” Roger said.

Up to 100 staff from the eight organisations are participating in the workshops. ■