Innovative partnership delivers measurable climate action for not-for-profit sector
A groundbreaking programme developed by Terra Nova and Rātā Foundation is delivering measurable climate action results for the not-for-profit sector, with participating organisations reducing their emissions intensity by 28% per dollar spent.
The Earth+ Resilience and Emissions Reduction programme has been designed to support not-for-profit organisations to reduce their carbon emissions and improve their resilience to climate-related impacts.
The programme includes an in-depth interactive workshop, followed by ongoing support through an online platform, one-on-one consultations, expert-led sessions, and a network of aligned service providers. Recent sessions have covered waste management and organisational cycling programmes, providing practical guidance on implementation.
In the last two years, over 100 participants across the Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions have completed the programme, with a target of reaching 160 organisations.
The programme was developed by Terra Nova and Rātā Foundation to address a critical gap in the sector, where organisations face increasing demand for services while also facing resource constraints and climate-related challenges. Terra Nova Founder and Chief Executive Rose Challies says: “Rather than treating environmental action as separate from core operations, the workshops demonstrate how climate preparedness strengthens organisational resilience. We're connecting organisations back to the Earth, to their purpose, and to each other. It's about creating a thriving ecosystem of not-for-profits that are prepared for change and actively contributing to a healthier future.”
Established in 2021, Terra Nova empowers organisations and individuals to take meaningful action on climate change through human connection and collective action. Rose says a key part of the programme’s content is reframing climate change from a source of fear to actionable information. “Participants learn to view climate data not as scary or a threat, but rather as a roadmap enabling proactive planning instead of reactive responses. When people hear ‘climate change’, there is a negative connotation. But it's not negative or positive, it's just saying the climate is changing.
“Our approach has been developed through extensive international experience in large-scale behaviour change. We believe strongly in utilising the data available to us, which is why participants receive a free carbon measurement report on day one. Attendees are able to then check back in after taking their first steps on the climate action journey and see real, measurable change."
The report is produced through Cogo, an internationally award-winning emissions measurement platform that programme attendees are able to access free-of-charge. Organisations are also connected with aligned businesses such as an on-demand, zero-emission vehicles carsharing alternative, enabling the shift to electric vehicles without the prohibitive upfront costs, as well as access to local native planting offsetting opportunities.
Belfast Community Network Community Development Coordinator Justine Balcar says the programme provided practical steps for the organisation to reduce their emissions. “Before I started the Terra Nova course, I felt a bit hopeless and a bit lost as to what to do, but now I know where we can actually make a difference. I was able to bring a whole lot of knowledge and practical solutions back to the board and staff.
“Since June last year, we have reduced our carbon footprint from 13,000kg to 11,000kg. We've replaced all the lighting in our facility, added an extra compost bin, downsized our vehicle fleet and are planting 200 native plants around our facilities. All of those things have enabled us to contribute in a meaningful way to this issue of climate change and looking after Papatūānuku.”
Family Drug Support Aotearoa New Zealand (FDS) Administration Leader Pip Mehrtens attended the workshop earlier in the year with a view to integrate sustainability into their strategic planning and policy. “In addition to looking for ways to improve our operations, when we reviewed and updated our strategic plan, we realised that sustainability was a missing element. We wanted to look at how we could improve our operations to be more environmentally friendly right now and to think more strategically about sustainability as we plan our future operations.
“It was heartwarming to see that our impact is quite low already, thanks to using telehealth instead of travel and sitting firmly in the sharing economy space. But we are using the information gained to shape an environmental strategy and policy, particularly around reducing our impact, and future-proofing the organisation by planning for environmental risk and extreme events in our risk register and mitigation strategies. It also showed us other things we can do to improve our awareness of, investment in, connection to, and adaptability for change.”
Programme Manager Gloria della Porta says the programme's success stems from its recognition that not-for-profits often lead in sustainable practices but lack the resources to measure and communicate their impact effectively. "Most of our organisations are meeting social needs so you could ask: What's that got to do with environment? But we’ve seen that not-for-profits hold some of the best practice of reducing emissions of anywhere, including the public and private sectors. We are finding examples of incredible practice within these organisations, who are really leading the way with putting intent into action.”
Terra Nova receives multi-year funding for the programme through the Rātā Foundation Strengthening the Sector programme. Rātā Foundation Chief Executive Leighton Evans says: “Our focus is very much on a forward-looking funding approach and taking an intergenerational mindset when it comes to climate action. By investing in strengthening organisations and offering free access to tools and expertise, the end goal is to drive long-term, systemic change within the not-for-profit sector. We want to build sector resilience as well as individual organisational capacity and ensure that everyone to be able to contribute to a shared positive impact."
The partnership represents what Rose describes as "world leading" philanthropic practice. "It's a really big deal that Rātā has provided funding for this programme because this is about trying to build resilience rather than being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. This programme is a gift to the sector. It's not just about individual organisations doing their bit. It's about creating a collective movement towards a more resilient, positive Earth for all of us."