The nation's southernmost region is setting itself the ambitious task of becoming carbon neutral following the announcement the Government will front $190,000 to help fund the project.
Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced $190,000 of funding from the Government’s Community Environment Fund for the Carbon Neutral Advantage project.
The Carbon Neutral Advantage, a project aimed at reducing carbon emissions in Southland was launched by the Ministry for the Environment and Venture Southland today.
“Venture Southland’s ambitious project to take a regional approach to reducing carbon emissions shows great leadership and is something the Government is proud to support,” Ms Sage said.
Southland will “provide a blueprint for the rest of New Zealand” by taking a local approach to reducing carbon emissions, Venture Southland business services and strategic projects general manager Steve Canny says.
The project, coordinated by Venture Southland, will see Southland businesses, councils, and the wider community implementing initiatives to encourage a low emission future for the region.
The three-year project, the first regional project of its kind, would provide significant benefits to the Southland region, Mr Canny said.
“Driving change at a local level will not only reduce carbon emissions but also increase the activity, productivity and competitive advantage of our Southland businesses.”
The project aligned with both national and international climate change policies and had the potential to provide a framework for other region’s to adopt, he said.
“Southland will pilot a regionally based approach to reducing carbon emissions and will provide a blueprint for the rest of New Zealand.”
A local steering group, made up of a wide range of sector representatives, was established to oversee the project and encourage the adoption of local initiatives and technologies, he said.
Work would be carried out with stakeholders to establish a baseline for carbon emissions, set realistic carbon-reduction targets and encourage the adoption of local, low emission initiatives.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw said: “To reach net zero by 2050 it will take every part of New Zealand working together to achieve this. The regional approach that Venture Southland is taking is innovative and has the potential to be applied in many other regions across the country.”
The project was being supported at a national level with funding confirmed by the Ministry for the Environment and the Tindall Foundation.
