As a signatory of the Climate Leaders Coalition, we’re committed to measuring and publicly reporting on our emissions, setting a public emissions reduction target and working with our suppliers to reduce their emissions.
Since 2007 we have been measuring, reporting and offsetting our emissions to attain carbon neutrality. We are one of three lead agencies in the Carbon Neutral Government Programme.
We're carbon certified
We are proudly a Toitū net carbon zero organisation, which means we are measuring, managing and reducing our emissions, and offsetting unavoidable emissions, according to ISO 14064-1:2018 and Toitū requirements.
Toitū net carbonzero certification is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS ANZ) and under ISO 14065.
Our carbon footprint
In 2022/2023, we emitted 188.45 tonnes of CO2-e, which is a 23% reduction from our base year (244.92 tCO2-e) and a 109% increase from 2020/2021 (90.38 tCO2-e).
Despite an increase in emissions in the past year, we are currently on track to meet our 2025 and 2030 targets.
The majority of our emissions come from air travel, followed by electricity for our offices. We measured working from home emissions for the first time this year, which added 4.78 tCO2e to our total emissions inventory.
Where our emissions come from
Emissions reduction targets
We have set science-aligned targets to keep global warming to less than 1.5 degrees of warming as required under the Carbon Neutral Government Programme and as a member of the Climate Leaders Coalition.
- 2025 32% reduction from a 2018/19 baseline to 166.5 tCO2e
- 2030 55% reduction from a 2018/19 baseline to 110.0 tCO2e
EECA's emissions reduction over time
How we offset remaining emissions
To achieve verified net carbon zero status through Toitū, we offset all remaining emissions with New Zealand carbon credits selected where available.
In 2022/23 we purchased carbon credits from Spray Point, Marlborough where the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative is returning traditional grazing country to native forest.
Pillars of sustainability: priority areas
Our emissions reduction target for 2023/24 is 183 tCO2e, representing a 2.4% decrease on the previous reporting year. To help us achieve this, we have established three strategic pillars of sustainability to focus our efforts on the areas where we can have the most impact.
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Sustainable transport
Travel represents 80.12% of our latest annual emissions. As the largest slice of our carbon footprint, travel, and particularly air travel, represents our greatest opportunity to reduce emissions.
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Energy efficiency in the office
Electricity represents 10.19% of our latest annual emissions. Through consistent energy management and the adoption of efficient and smart technologies, we can maintain low-impact office spaces and showcase our leadership in this area of expertise.
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Sustainable procurement
Our ability to influence will begin to incorporate our supply chain. By working with our suppliers, we can collectively start to understand the broader set of scope 3 emissions within our footprint. It is the first step in us knowing where to prioritise our efforts.
Office energy performance
Our offices have the National Australian Built Environment Rating System New Zealand (NABERSNZ) ratings that represent excellent energy performance. Our Wellington office has a tenancy rating of 5 stars, and our Auckland office has a tenancy rating of 4.5 stars.
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Carbon Neutral Government Programme
EECA is one of three lead agencies of the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP). The programme aims to make a number of organisations within the public sector carbon neutral from 2025.
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Climate Leaders Coalition
As a signatory we’re committed to measuring and reporting our emissions, adopting science aligned emissions reduction targets, assessing and disclosing climate change risks, and working with suppliers to reduce their emissions.
EECA Emissions Report
Download our 2022/23 emissions inventory and 2023/24 emissions reduction plan.