As part of the government’s objective to make the public sector carbon neutral by 2025, more state-owned businesses will be encouraged to transition to sustainable energy. James Shaw, the Minister of Climate Change, has announced an additional $13.2 million from the Government’s $220 million State Sector Decarbonisation Fund to acquire electric vehicles and replace coal boilers with cleaner options.
Across Aotearoa, the fund has helped state-owned businesses buy over 600 electric vehicles and replace more than 100 coal boilers. “Our government has been putting tens of millions of dollars into clean energy projects in public organisations across Aotearoa, helping to create jobs and support our recovery from COVID-19.”
The projects announced will contribute to the transition to a carbon-neutral public sector by 2025. Among the clean energy initiatives that will benefit from today’s funding announcement are the following:
- Adding another 127 electric vehicles to the state sector fleet
- Upgrading universities and other public organisations to run on clean, climate-friendly energy
The government has built the groundwork for Aotearoa’s affluent, low-emission future over the last four years. This includes legislation such as the Zero Carbon Act and programmes like the State Sector Decarbonisation Fund, which assist businesses in making minor but critical adjustments that add up to a better, cleaner future for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Most New Zealanders want to be able to access public services in warm, energy-efficient facilities powered by sustainable energy, whether it’s a local school, a university, or a hospital. Citizens also want to know if important public sector workers can get around using electric vehicles for their jobs.
“Because of today’s announcement I am confident that this future is closer within reach than ever before,” James Shaw said.
OpenGov Asia reported that a cross-government partnership has been formed to turn this around and make New Zealand a global leader in clean technology. One of the report’s key recommendations was to increase collaboration among government organisations to increase investment in clean technology. Another is collaborating with multinational corporations to help businesses grow.
New Zealand’s innovation agency clean tech spokesman stated that new technologies will help the country meet its carbon targets and build a high-value export sector while also creating jobs. More investment was required to commercialise some of the emerging technology to achieve this. The partnership would develop a five-year roadmap to attract investment, strengthen local and global networks, scope new initiatives, and develop clusters of cleantech businesses.
Despite the fact that a recent review of the country’s cleantech businesses revealed up to 300 companies working on technologies, applications, plastic alternatives, new energy sources, and industrial waste processing. In the 2020 financial year, 98 cleantech businesses that had been funded by New Zealand’s innovation agency, generated $334 million in revenue, supported nearly 2000 jobs, and invested in $95m worth of research and development. There were about 680 high-value research and development jobs.
The NZ CleanTech Mission collaboration was formed by New Zealand’s innovation agency and a few other innovative enterprises to turn indigenous cleantech into viable businesses. FintechNZ also wants to see an increased commitment to green technology to combat climate change and drive the financial services sector toward sustainability. Reducing carbon emissions to zero is more important than ever, but so is preparing for the risks of global warming.
As New Zealand recovers from the global pandemic and prepares for a resilient future, FintechNZ acting executive director believes the need for financial businesses to act now is greater than ever. The average investor and many firms are not only aware of the problem, but the benefits are often just as attractive as investing in, for instance, fossil fuels.
Green fintech has the potential to propel New Zealand into a more environmentally conscious economy that is better connected to combat climate change. FintechNZ encourages Kiwi companies to create platforms that analyze investment impact on the environment.
