The New Zealand Customs Service (NZCS) is committed to helping New Zealand manage the impacts of climate change. It is working with domestic partner agencies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and address the environmental impact of product disposal.
This includes collaborating with New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment on a joint review of current waste minimisation legislation, changes to levies on synthetic greenhouse gases, and the introduction of product stewardship fees to discourage the import of certain products, such as tyres, and to provide for their appropriate end-of-life disposal.
This reflects Custom’s key role in the development and implementation of policies to achieve broader environmental objectives set by respective governments.
Measuring Emissions
NZCS has set up systems to capture and report on emissions and certify emissions data against the international standards set out in ISO14064-1:2018.
The agency accounts for all GHG emissions and removal of waste products from facilities where it has operational or financial control. This includes emissions generated from activities at New Zealand international airports and marine ports. Most of NZCS’ emissions come from fleet vehicles, air travel, and the electricity used for office spaces.
Three years of emissions records have been audited, which presents the main emissions sources and key trends. This has provided a strong basis to support more detailed planning to meet long-term targets.
Emission Reduction Targets
NZCS also has set targets to reduce gross emissions by 21 percent by 2025, and
42 percent by 2030.
It has a programme of work underway towards meeting those targets. This includes a commitment to reducing air travel, replacing petrol vehicles with electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles, an ongoing commitment to energy efficiency in office spaces, and waste-to-landfill minimisation.
Work to reduce emissions is already delivering results. In the 2022/23 financial year (FY), NZCS emitted 2,518 tCO2-e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), a 6.94 percent reduction on our FY 2019/20 base year (2,705 tCO2-e).
Looking Forward
NZCS is committed to ongoing improvement and better understanding emission sources. This will inform strategic decisions about how to best progress further emission reduction plans and activities.
The agency will also be improving data quality by working with rental car providers to obtain kilometres driven and working with taxi providers to provide kilometres travelled per transaction.
NZCS has created a Green Customs technical group made up of experts from across the organisation, which coordinates current and emerging sustainability initiatives that directly impact on its work.
The group is currently looking at developing a Green Customs Strategy to systematise the organisational approach to reducing carbon emissions and waste, contributing to environmental stewardship initiatives, as well as exploring options to help traders and transport operators reduce their carbon footprints.
Ultimately, this work will support sustainable businesses and promote the transition to a circular economy.
This article first appeared in the January/February Issue of the Asia/Pacific Customs News Volume #70 on 'Green Customs' available through Publications webpage of the wcoasiapacific.org website.
