Recognition of Excellence for GHG Scheme

Further Recognition of Excellence for Leading International GHG Certification Scheme

By Kathryn Hailes, Marketing & Communications Manager

Hot on the heels of their No.1 ranking in Australasia by Carbon Catalog and their nominations for three different categories at the Vero Excellence in Business Awards, the carboNZeroCertTM programme continues to prove why it is both New Zealand’s, and the world’s, most credible and successful greenhouse gas certification scheme.

The finalists for the May 2009 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Awards, hosted by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), were announced last Friday and not surprisingly the carboNZero programme was amongst the list of high calibre nominees.

Professor Ann Smith, the carboNZero programmes’s General Manager – Technical, joins the 27 finalists competing for top honours in the 2009 Awards for excellence and innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Others include, for example, a vineyard producing premium quality wine, the largest geothermal development in 20 years and a felted carpet maker whose products are bought by Hollywood's A list.

Everyday, innovative Kiwis across the country are implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that help their organisations to reduce costs, improve productivity and improve their brand credentials through lower greenhouse gas emissions – something that is increasingly more important in the current economic climate.

With over 110,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions offset through the carboNZero programme to date, this New Zealand success has contributed towards the carboNZero programme establishing itself as a leading internationally recognised GHG certification scheme. It is the only GHG certification scheme in New Zealand based on solid science working with the World Resource Institute and the International Standards Organisation to develop global protocols for measuring and reporting carbon footprints.

The carboNZero programme is leading the way in GHG certification, and the team is delighted to see Ann singled out from the 100 entries for her outstanding contribution to climate change, greenhouse gas measurement/reduction and carbon monitoring. Having helped certify nearly 200 organisations, she is undoubtedly one of the driving forces behind Landcare Research’s very successful carboNZero programme.

“We believe that our requirements for transparency through the disclosure page help to ensure credibility and integrity for both our programme and for the client by being open to all scrutiny,” Professor Smith says.

Credible GHG certification is an efficient and smart way to help contribute towards combating both the recession and climate change. Marlborough region’s Yealands Estate Winery Ltd is a clear example of this having been nominated for a Business (SME) and Innovation award. Yealands is one of the growing number of wineries to successfully complete carboNZero certification.

Mike Tournier, carboNZero programme Business Manager, says an unfortunate side of the emerging carbon economy is the requirement for organisations to filter out the numerous ‘cheque book certification providers’ who, for an exchange of sometimes questionable offsets, will issue a certificate.

“Our ethos is around robust and credible procedures across all steps – measure, manage, mitigate and market – and Ann’s nomination at the 2009 Awards is further confirmation of our pursuit of excellence,” he says.

EECA is the organisation set up by the New Zealand Government to encourage, support and promote energy efficiency, energy conservation, and the use of renewable sources of energy. The 2009 Awards are open to all New Zealand organisations and individuals that have successfully produced outstanding results in energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. The winners will be announced at the Awards 2009 presentation in Auckland on Thursday 21 May 2009.

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