Although the Reset Summit has wrapped up, there’s still a chance for local businesses to learn more about living with a smaller environmental footprint this year. 

‘Zero Carbon Now Wanaka: How to measure and manage your business’s carbon footprint’ is coming to Wanaka today (Tuesday December 1).

“If you missed out on WAO's carbon footprint workshop, or even if you want to delve deeper into the measurement and certification options within New Zealand - this is the event for you,” WAO organisers said.

The free event is being led by Ekos, an international non-profit enterprise that develops innovative approaches to financing a sustainable future.

Ekos will “demystify the carbon footprint measurement process and… help your business get started on their zero carbon journey no matter what stage it is at,” Ekos said in a statement.

Attendees will learn about the importance and the advantages of understanding their business’s carbon footprint; how to start measuring and reducing; and a sense of how much it might cost to measure to the ISO standard and get certified as a zero carbon/climate positive business operation.

The event will teach business owners how to start measuring and reducing their carbon footprint.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) recently tallied up its greenhouse gas emissions for the financial year 2018-19, finding its greenhouse gas output over the period was 578 tonnes. 

Most of the output came from transport fuels, domestic air travel, and purchased electricity: fuel for the ORC’s fleet of 59 vehicles accounted for 349 tonnes; domestic flights, mainly between made up 103 tonnes, and purchased electricity for ORC offices, depots and pump stations totalled 76 tonnes.

ORC chief executive Sarah Gardner said the assessment was a first for the organisation, adding that it was done in parallel with a region-wide emissions assessment.

“There’s no requirement for us to do an inventory like this of our own organisation, but it has been really helpful for us to take a step back and understand what ORC’s day-to-day activities look like in terms of carbon output,” she said. 

“Crucially, this work also sets us up with a baseline to measure improvements over time.”

‘Zero Carbon Now Wanaka: How to measure and manage your business’s carbon footprint’ will take place at the Lake Wanaka centre tonight, with the doors opening at 4.45pm. A presentation followed by a Q&A session and networking. 

Register for the free event here.

PHOTO/IMAGE: Supplied