The Government will require the public sector to “achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.”

A $200 million State Sector Decarbonisation Fund will finance the replacement of public sector coal boilers, and support the immediate purchase of electric or hybrid vehicles to start replacing the Government’s petrol car fleet.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said “requiring the public sector to be carbon neutral within 5 year highlights the Government’s commitment to leadership on climate change and the urgency of the action required.”

 “Government agencies will have to measure and reduce their emissions and offset what they can’t in order to achieve carbon neutrality. It’s an important step forward in our plan for New Zealand to be carbon neutral by 2050.”

 “The public sector needs to be and will be an exemplar that sets the standard we all need to achieve by 2050.”

 “This policy, alongside today’s declaration of a climate emergency, serves as a message to the public sector to get our own house in order. It’s also a call to action for the private sector and it’s great to see so many examples of businesses taking steps to reduce their emissions.”

“Action on climate change is a priority for the Labour Government and is an integral part of our Covid recovery plan. We need to seize the advantages of a climate focused recovery and the economic prosperity such a strategy offers,” Jacinda Ardern said.