New Zealand’s Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw has announced six new projects that will be supported by the Government’s clean-powered Public Service fund.
The University of Canterbury, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand Defence Force, Inland Revenue, and MidCentral and Lakes District Health Boards will receive support so they can upgrade key parts of their operations to run on clean energy.
Mr Shaw said the projects would reduce State sector carbon emissions by an estimated 14,730 tonnes annually and help lower New Zealand’s dependence on fossil fuel.
“That’s the equivalent of taking more than 6,000 petrol vehicles off the road,” Mr Shaw said.
“The projects are the second to be announced under the $200 million clean-powered Public Service fund, which is part of the Government’s New Zealand Upgrade project,” he said.
Mr Shaw said that upgrading public services to run on clean energy was a hugely important part of the work the Government was doing to create jobs and tackle the climate crisis.
“For too long, we have relied on climate-polluting fuels to keep parts of our public organisations running. Today’s announcement is another step towards changing this and ensuring climate-friendly energy solutions are a part of our everyday lives,” he said.
“Our Government has put in place in place some of the world’s most ambitious climate targets, and made policy and institutional changes that will help us to bend the curve of our emissions downwards, something that has never happened before in New Zealand,” Mr Shaw said.
Wellington, 17 July 2020
