The government's set its sights on cutting carbon emissions in the state sector but admits it has no real information on what impact agencies are having on the environment.
Environmentalists and academics say if combating climate change is as important as this government claims it needs to lead from the top. Photo: 123RF
Figures released to Checkpoint show several of the biggest government departments don't know how much carbon their creating - and only some have plans to reduce it.
Environmentalists and academics say that's not good enough - and if combating climate change is as important as this government claims, it needs to lead from the top.
Last week the government announced $200 million of funding to cut coal burners from schools and hospitals to curb carbon emissions.
But beyond those buildings, Climate Change Minister James Shaw confirmed little was known about the state sector's environmental impact.
"Everything starts with having good information and the problem that most agencies have got is that they haven't even got good information yet and that's really got to be the first step."
Government agencies have not been mandated to report their carbon emissions - and very few have.
Documents released to Checkpoint show The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Police, Corrections, The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, The Ministry for Business, Employment and Innovation and the Defence Force confirmed they don't have any records for the past five years.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw confirmed little was known about the state sector's environmental impact. Photo: RNZ /Dom Thomas
The Ministry of Health had limited reporting of rental car emissions and flights - The Ministry for Primary Industries had a more comprehensive overview including energy and travel usage.
Perhaps as expected, the Ministry for the Environment had a full breakdown, including the average carbon emissions of each employee.
But Shaw said it would take time to get everyone to that level.
"The state sector is enormous, it occupies almost a third of the economy, it just takes time to get rolling.
"It is clear, particularly now that you've got bipartisan support from across the House on the Zero Carbon Bill, that agencies now know exactly what every other sector of the economy knows that the political leadership of the country is united and our emissions have to come down."
"Our Co2 emissions in particular have to come down very quickly and very steeply and the first and easiest place to do that is in the domain of transport, so I guess they've got their marching orders."
Shaw says the Zero Carbon Act, which commits New Zealand to zero carbon by 2050 - sets a clear directive for limiting emissions.
He has clear expectations the government start leading by example.
"It's important to me that at a time when we're asking everyone in every sector of the economy to make the switch that government agencies walk the talk and lead by example."
The public sector is estimated to employ around 400,000 people - making up about 18 percent of New Zealand's total workforce.
New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute director Dave Frame said they were lagging behind.
"It's a little frustrating and fairly predictable I think that the government has probably spent a bit much time brandishing its halo about its ambitious targets, rather than actually thinking about how the core functions it oversees are going to have to change as part of reaching that target."
Iwi leaders climate change group chairperson Mike Smith is suing the government over what he says is a failure to act fast enough on climate change.
He says the lack of data on state sector's emissions proves his point.
"It is what it is and that seems to be very little.
"It's surprising to me to see in the last five years, the state sector has done next to nothing. But this means we can look forward to them now making some real progress and starting at the top of government, there's lots of great opportunities to lead by example right across the state sector."
