Our Climate Action Plan runs from 2021 to 2030 and is one way we're building sustainability into university life.
Our Climate Action Plan is based on the values of:
- kotahitanga (solidarity, collective action)
- kaitiakitanga (environmental stewardship).
Massey recognises that we need to draw on many different kinds of knowledge, including:
- natural sciences
- social sciences
- humanities
- creative arts
- mātauranga Māori.
We know we cannot do this crucial work alone. We need to work with students, mana whenua, iwi and industry, and with cities and regions in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
Net Zero Carbon goal by 2030
As part of the Massey University Climate Action Plan, we have committed to Net Zero Carbon (NZC) by 2030 according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocols. This means we will have net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. Our inventory verification process through Toitū follows ISO 14064-1:2018, which aligns with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol corporate standards requirements.
The Massey University Senior Leadership Team approved this commitment in 2019.
Measuring our GHG emissions footprint
This is an important part of our Climate Action Plan and net zero carbon goal. Massey produces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from:
- energy we use
- travel we take
- waste we produce
- the farms and aviation facilities that we use for teaching and research.
Like most Australasian universities, our international long-haul air travel creates many of our emissions.
We are tracking our GHG emissions and producing verified updates each year. You can see our annual certified emissions reports at Toitū Envirocare
Our GHG emissions for the university (excluding farms) in 2021, our latest audited results, were: 5,849 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent for Scope 1, 3,748 for Scope 2 and 1,549 for Scope 3. This comes to a total of 11,146 tonnes.
These compare to our baseline emissions in 2018 of: 6,790 tonnes for Scope 1, 3,152 for Scope 2 and 12,549 for Scope 3. This comes to a total of 22,491 tonnes.
We're using data from our GHG emissions footprint to:
- understand what are our biggest emission sources
- change how we do things on campus, in the office and on the farm.
Reducing our GHG emissions
To reach the aim of being net zero carbon in the Massey Climate Action Plan, we are cutting our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by:
- making sure our low-carbon goals are part of the business of the university – for example, campus development plans, capital and investment plans, business case development, procurement and contracts
- transforming what we do and how we do it – for example staff and student 'Green Teams', education campaigns around waste, energy and transport.
Low-carbon buildings and energy
Our goals and target
- 100 per cent of buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2050.
- All new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030.
Our target is a 30 per cent reduction of energy-related emissions by 2030.
2018 baseline
Our campuses:
- used 8,528,488 kilowatts of electricity and gas
- emitted 8,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
What we're doing
Some examples are:
- working on a 2022 plan for net zero carbon buildings
- improving business intelligence
- reducing energy use
- moving to renewable energy sources
- using environmentally sustainable design (ESD) principles for new buildings.
Our initiatives
Examples include:
- using more electricity and gas meters
- changing to energy-efficient lighting and equipment
- moving to largely renewable electricity sources
- making sure new buildings meet 5 Green Star rating or similar
- assessing buildings for energy and carbon use
- creating a method for working out carbon costs in building works
- transforming our culture and practices.
Low-carbon mobility
Our goals and target
- Reduce unnecessary travel.
- Shift to lower-carbon modes of transport.
Our 2030 target is:
- 30 per cent reduction of air travel-related emissions
- 30 per cent reduction in land transport-related emissions
- to increase electric vehicles (EVs) in our fleet to 90 per cent of total vehicles.
2018 baseline
Our transport emissions:
- by air were 12,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
- by land were 867 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
What we're doing
Some examples are:
- cutting unnecessary travel
- changing our modes of transport to lower carbon-emitting ones
- electrifying our vehicle fleet
- bringing down the carbon footprint of the Aviation School.
Our initiatives
Examples include:
- reducing overseas air travel
- improving video-conferencing for meetings
- developing a sustainable commuting plan
- making cycling and active transport part of campus planning
- replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with electric vehicles
- doing a feasibility study of electric-powered aircraft.
Leading Climate Smart and Sustainable Agriculture
Our goals and target
We aim by:
- 2030 to meet the New Zealand legislation target to reduce methane to 10 per cent below the 2017 baseline – we're developing our target for methane reduction at the moment
- 2050 to cut our nitrous oxide production to net zero by 2050 – nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas produced in farming.
2018 baseline
Our agricultural emissions of:
- methane were equivalent to 7,451 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
- nitrous oxide were 713 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
What we're doing
We're developing:
- a high-level roadmap with vision and goals – ‘where do we want to be'
- a Transition Pathway Action Plan – ‘how do we get there'
- targets for GHG emission cuts, improvements in soil and water quality, and more bio-diversity.
Our initiatives
Examples of what we might do are:
- planting more trees on river banks, wetlands and other areas
- capturing methane emissions from farm ponds to produce energy
- including more inversion tillage
- using plantain and fodder beet to cut nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide emissions
- making fertiliser more efficient with hyperspectral mapping.
Zero waste campuses
Our goals and target
Our targets are diverting waste from landfill by:
- 60 per cent by 2025
- 90 per cent by 2030.
2018 baseline
Our campus waste was:
- 918 tonnes
- 287 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
What we're doing
Examples include:
- cutting the resources we use, especially non-reusable or recyclable items
- promoting and supporting reuse and recycling
- diverting food and organic waste from landfill
- raising understanding of the waste stream.
Our initiatives
Examples include:
- cutting resources used in events and food outlets on campus
- improving our waste and recycling bins
- educating staff and students about waste, and waste and recycling facilities
- setting up food and organic waste management on each campus.
Balancing our GHG emissions
Massey can help reach our goal to be net zero carbon by offsetting the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions we cannot cut by 2030. We're looking at how best to compensate for GHG emissions by exploring options like:
- sequestering emissions – capturing and storing emissions over the long term, for example through planting and managing trees
- buying third-party carbon credits – buying carbon credits from organisations that are awarded credits for defined projects that store, avoid or reduce GHG emissions in the atmosphere.
External engagement
At Massey, we often work hand in hand with organisations and communities outside the university. This real-world activity gives our research, teaching and learning a practical basis that helps our students contribute to society while studying and working.
As part of our Climate Action Plan (CAP), we're committed to working closely with external partners. We aim to share our knowledge and research practical solutions to the challenges of climate change with our partners. We've shared our CAP with the local council, NGOs and government organisations. Many initiatives are underway with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). These include:
- Employing EECA-supported Energy and Carbon Management graduates to review our energy use, implement energy-saving initiatives and reduce fossil fuel use.
- Co-funding initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. For example, the replacement of gas boilers with heat pump technology.
We're also focusing on two areas that play off our strengths.
Low Carbon Cities
Building on our research track record in transport, urban planning, sustainable building, waste and geo-informatics, we will help develop the 'just transition' Massey will share our expertise with iwi and local authorities, and learn from them.
We already have a strong relationship with Palmerston North City Council (PNCC), where our Manawatū campus is. We have:
- a funding agreement for our Living Lab partnership, which began in 2011
- an agreement to work on PNCC's planned Low Carbon Roadmap.
Climate Smart Farming
With our international reputation in agriculture, we plan to show how agriculture can transition to a low-carbon future. Massey academics will work with industry and the public.
Related content
Strategies, plans & annual reports
Read the Massey University Strategy, including our teaching, learning and research plans, and access our annual reports and investment plans.
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