Climate Positive Ākina

Ākina has committed to reducing our:

• Absolute scope 2 emissions by 42% by 2029 from a 2019 base year.

• Absolute scope 3 emissions from travel, accommodation and waste by 42% within the same year

This means reducing our emissions from 69.79 tCO2e to 40.4 tCO2e.

The reason for this is to demonstrate climate leadership that is consistent with our domestic climate change legislation (Climate Change Response Act 2002) and with the overall goal of keeping within the 1.5 degrees target above pre-industrial temperatures.

Ākina Carbon Measurement process (PDF report, produced by Ākina)

• 2018-2019: 69.79 tCO2e (base year)
Ākina Carbon Footprint Report FY18/19 (PDF report, produced by Ekos)

• 2019-2020: 27.99 tCO2e
Ākina Carbon Footprint Report FY19/20 (PDF report, produced by Ekos)

• 2020-2021: 42.32 tCO2e
Ākina Carbon Footprint Report FY20/21 (PDF report, produced by Ekos)

• 2021-2022: 23.36 tCO2e
Ākina Carbon Footprint Report FY21/22 (PDF report, produced by Ekos)

• 2022-2023: 59.67 tCO2e
Ākina Carbon Footprint Report FY22/23 (PDF report, produced by Ekos)

We are a service based organisation and our work is to drive positive outcomes and tackle issues such as climate change for stakeholders. This makes our assessment and disclosure of climate change risks unique when compared to a more traditional business.

Physical risks

For Ākina, our greatest physical risk associated with climate change is the loss of our offices which can directly influence our ability to provide our services. As a risk management tool, we have introduced a flexible working policy and also trained our staff to deliver workshops and services online.

Reputation risks

We accept as a leading organisation in social impact, the consequences of not limiting our target emissions and being climate change conscious imposes great reputation risks for our organisation. Accordingly, we have implemented a sustainability policy which includes a “travel only when necessary” and always selecting low carbon transition options. These policies also ensure we mitigate the risk of rising cost of carbon and accessibility to offsets.

Financial risks with offsetting

Although we offset all our emissions, with climate change action increasing including mandatory compliance laws coming into effect soon, this brings forwards the risk of rising cost of carbon and accessibility.

Main process to identify and assess climate change risks:

Therefore to mitigate the risks of climate change and hold ourselves accountable we use carbon footprint measurements to identify the areas and processes within our organisation that require work. We also use Ekos to offset our carbon, not only to remain climate positive but also to hold us accountable. We monitor throughout the year, analyze our emissions on an annual basis and adjust in accordance with this.

The purpose of the policy is to provide a framework for Ākina staff to help guide us to work in a more sustainable way. It outlines and demonstrates Ākina’s commitment to operating as a responsible and sustainable business and ‘walking the talk’ (operating in alignment with our values).

Ākina will consider a Te Ao Māori lens when approaching sustainability. We believe that through caring for people and the planet in the way we operate, we are able to keep moving forward in a sustainable way to create impact. Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua. Care for the land, care for the people, go forward

The sustainability policy should be considered when making all procurement decisions, and in considering the environmental impact of other operational decisions.

Ākina is committed to improving our approach to sustainability over time and will aim to evolve our approach in line with best practice.

The policy takes a principle based approach and is intended to be understood and used as a guide, rather than a detailed set of processes to be followed.

Read the Sustainability Policy here

Ākina has implemented a sustainability policy, which includes ‘travel only when necessary’, and selecting low carbon transport options.

Our team is committed to operating in accordance with our values and creating the change that we want to see in the world.We have specific actions planned to reduce our carbon footprint: 

• We will continue to monitor and report our emissions on an annual basis.

• Allow staff to work from home to reduce commute emissions. 

• Hiring staff and associates to service regions where Ākina is operating to reduce travel 

In August 2021 Ākina proudly joined the Climate Leaders Coalition – a group of over 100 New Zealand businesses large and small, committing to change how business is done and take action on climate change.

To sign up to the Statement of Ambition, signatories must meet four minimum requirements by September 2023:

• Measuring emissions and reporting them publicly;

• Adopting short-term gross absolute science aligned targets for scope 1 and 2 emissions to support the delivery of substantial reductions needed to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius;

• Assessing climate change risks and publicly disclosing them; and

• Proactively enabling employees and suppliers to reduce their emissions.

The remaining requirements must be met within two years of signing up or by September 2025 (whichever is soonest).

The full Statement of Ambition (below) shows all requirements with bold showing the minimum requirements for joining.

• Measuring our emissions, having them independently verified, and reporting them publicly;

• Adopting short-and-long-term gross absolute science aligned targets for scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to support the delivery of substantial reductions needed to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius;

• Assessing climate change risks and opportunities (including in the value chain), setting objectives and/or target(s) to reduce these risks and maximise opportunities, and publicly disclosing them;

• Proactively enabling our employees, board members, customers, and suppliers to reduce their emissions and reduce their climate change risks;

Embedding plans within our businesses to accelerate climate action across mitigation, adaptation, and transition, and incorporate te ao Māori perspectives;

Preparing for the next frontier of climate action, including considering the assessment of nature-based risks and long-term climate positive targets.

By signing the Coalitions’s 2022 statement, our climate change commitments are aligned with the Paris Agreement temperature goals.

Ākina is also committed to meaningful actions through disclosing and reporting on climate risk.

Our emissions reductions targets will be grounded in science, are independently verified, and Ākina is working with our employees and suppliers to reduce emissions.

Any organisation prepared to commit to lead on climate change can join the Climate Leaders Coalition.

Find out more about signing up.