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Organisations in Aotearoa are under more pressure than ever to address climate change. Having strong carbon reduction plans has become crucial for businesses across the country. While offsetting can play a role, reducing emissions at the source is critical for long-term sustainable development, but this can seem complicated for leaders that are just starting their sustainability journey.
This guide will take you through a five-step method to help understand the process for building an effective reduction strategy.
Morphum's sustainability team helps businesses build emissions reductions strategies and achieve certifications such as Toitū Net Carbon Zero or Carbon Reduce.
Reach out to our team if you have any questions: CONTACT US
Begin by assessing your emissions profile. Emissions are typically grouped into:
Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the use of purchased electricity, steam, or heating.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions that occur throughout the value chain, including supply chain, travel, and waste.
It makes sense to focus on the largest sources of emissions, but don't underestimate smaller, easy-to-implement changes. Improving energy efficiency, switching to lower-emissions suppliers, and promoting low-impact staff behaviours can all make a measurable difference.
Bringing in external expertise can also help identify the most impactful and achievable reduction measures.
For each emissions reduction opportunity, consider:
Cost – upfront investment and ongoing operating costs
Emissions impact – how much it will reduce your emissions
Timeframe – how long it will take to implement and show results
These insights will help you prioritise actions based on return on investment, speed, and impact.
Once opportunities are identified, you’ll need to prioritise them. Use a simple matrix that takes into account:
Technical or logistical complexity
Disruption to existing operations
Additional benefits (e.g. reputation or financial gains)
Regulatory or stakeholder requirements
Time sensitivity or strategic alignment
You can assign weights to these criteria to help guide decision-making in a clear, evidence-based way.
Turning strategy into action requires a structured plan. Include:
Action steps
What needs to happen
Timeframes
When the actions will happen
Responsibilities
Who will lead each part of the process
Monitoring
How your progress will be tracked and reported
Build regular reviews into the plan structure so you can adapt to new data, priorities, or constraints. Appointing a dedicated sustainability lead or committee can also help maintain momentum.
By setting targets, you can test different outcomes and track your progress on your strategy-building journey.
Make your strategy stick by setting targets that are SMART:
Specific – clearly defined
Measurable – trackable over time
Achievable – realistic based on your resources
Relevant – aligned with your broader goals
Time-bound – with a set deadline
For example: “Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25% by 2030.” Ambitious but realistic targets help your organisation stay focused and accountable.
At Morphum, we work alongside clients to streamline the sustainability process, providing support to businesses. We can help with reduce emissions, build organisational resilience, and protect the natural systems we all rely on.
For more information or support on your sustainability journey, reach out to our team!
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