Oxygen Consulting

While much of the focus on climate change this year has been on transitioning to a low-carbon future, there is an equally critical conversation to be had around climate adaptation, managed retreat, and the pressing question: who will bear the cost? Our Senior Sustainability Consultant Kelly Flatz shares her thoughts with Ross Inglis on Vincent Heeringa's This Climate Business podcast, following her award winning Master’s thesis dissertation on the subject. Kelly discusses the dynamic and delicate socio-economic considerations for decision makers in building a strategy for managed retreat in Aotearoa New Zealand. 👉 Listen to it here: https://lnkd.in/g6giHxBt

🏆 We are thrilled to have won the Excellence in Sustainability Award at the BNH Business Excellence Awards on Friday! We're honored to receive this award and as a small company we are really proud of the impact we are creating within our organisation, for our clients and for the broader sustainability profession and industry. Ka mua, ka muri / look back in order to look forward. Thanks to Business North Harbour for giving us the opportunity to pause and reflect on how far we've come in just six years, we are looking forward to continuing to raise the bar over the next six!

As we await the decision on a potential one-year delay of several adoption provisions in the Aotearoa NZ climate disclosure regime, it's important to remember that the requirement for independent assurance of Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions will still apply to Climate Reporting Entities (CREs) with reporting periods ending on or after 27 October 2024. As both preparers of GHG emissions inventories and also independent auditors (never on the same entity!) we've seen the good, the bad and the ugly, and we know that it can take some time to get the house in order so that you have an accurate measure of your emissions. 💡 That’s why we’re resharing an article we wrote earlier this year with practical tips to help CREs get ready for a GHG audit. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gkAi2cvT Do get in touch if you need further support in preparing your GHG emissions inventory, or are looking for independent audit and assurance.

🌍 Sustainable finance is a critical catalyst for accelerating how businesses - and New Zealand as a whole - address climate risks and seize new opportunities. That's why we're getting behind the KangaNews-Westpac New Zealand Sustainable Finance Summit, taking place on 7 November. This Summit will bring together key market players to explore the vital role finance plays in helping New Zealand thrive in a rapidly changing global environment. With the government recently partnering with the Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua to develop a national sustainable finance strategy, and the financial sector increasingly focusing on sustainable lending and investment, this is a must-attend event for businesses keen to stay ahead of the curve. 🔍 Why attend? Sustainability-driven organisations will gain valuable insights into emerging trends and how sustainable finance may enhance their market position. ✅ FREE registration is available for issuers, borrowers, investors, government agencies, university delegates, and NGOs. 🎤 We’re excited to participate in two panels—one exploring nature-related opportunities, and another on how to leverage climate disclosures to drive leadership. 📍 Join us in person at Westpac’s head office in Britomart, Auckland, on Thursday, 7 November: https://lnkd.in/gV8pWVTh We look forward to seeing you there! #SustainableFinance #ClimateLeadership #Sustainability #Finance #NZ #ClimateRisk #SustainableBusiness

We understand that #sustainability #professionals face growing pressures to drive meaningful change within their organisations, often amidst challenging circumstances. A couple of weeks ago, our Principal Consultant, Gerri Ward, insightfully captured the reasons behind this in her article He tāngata (https://lnkd.in/gddxCZzH) In her follow-up piece below, Gerri explores practical strategies for overcoming obstacles and making a positive impact. Drawing from her extensive personal and professional experience, she shares ten #actionable #tips that can be applied universally, not only within sustainability roles but across any profession. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gzhUYkgg

The recent Climate Change and Business Conference showcased the extensive work companies have done over the past year to integrate #climate into their #governance, #strategy, #riskmanagement, and #reporting. But what about the people driving this change? At the incredible roundtable session hosted by Gerri Ward and Kelly Flatz, we learned just how much pressure #sustainability #professionals are under. They need technical expertise, cross-team collaboration skills, and resilience as their roles expand—and the demands keep growing. 💡 We wanted to do something about this....so we’re excited to offer our #mentoring and #coaching service for sustainability professionals! Whether you’re figuring out where to start, solving technical problems, or just need a supportive coach, we’re here to help. Our senior experts, Sarah Holden and Gerri Ward, bring nearly 50 years of combined experience as both in-house sustainability leaders and technical consultants, having worked with a broad range of industries across Aotearoa NZ. They offer empathetic, insider insights while also providing an external perspective to help you navigate challenges. 👉 Looking for this? Get in touch: kiaora@oxygen-consulting.co.nz

👏 Massive congratulations to our client Quadrent , who are now a #Certified #BCorporation, meaning they're now part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact and who are leading the movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. If you don't know Quadrent, they provide leasing solutions for office equipment and software. What happens to those computers, monitors and phones once you've finished the lease? Quadrent will either refurbish them and donate them to kids in need, or if they are beyond repair, take them through a certified e-recycling process. This means not only are devices kept out of the landfill, but importantly, many of them take on a second life to support digital inclusion, helping create a much more empowered future for every young Kiwi. Great work Quadrent! We're proud to support you.

The bar for #excellence is rising quickly on the #ESG front and many #organisations are feeling caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, there is pressure and effort to be more ambitious on ESG commitments and #target setting. On the other, #companies are being caught out for pushing targets that may not be achieved, and ESG agendas that are at odds with the core strategy.  There is backlash from the companies genuinely trying to up their game, alongside backlash from stakeholders and regulators that this is not enough. Gerri Ward reflects on Air New Zealand’s announcement last week that it is cancelling its science-aligned emissions targets, what we can learn from this and how companies can navigate their way through the ESG rock and a hard place. Sustainable Business Network Sustainable Business Council NZ https://lnkd.in/gKbBbjxD

Climate-related disclosures have caused a fair amount of hype, work and activity in recent months, but are they actually achieving the objective of bringing climate into core business? In this article, Gerri Ward provides clarity on what #transitionplanning is actually about and investigates the progress Aotearoa New Zealand companies are making in this area as part of their mandatory #climate #disclosures. Sustainable Business Network Sustainable Business Council NZ https://lnkd.in/ggj9ENyT