Christchurch City Council announces Sustainability Fund – New Zealand

Objectives

• They will meet the challenge of climate change through every means available.
• They understand and are prepared for the ongoing impacts of climate change.
• They all benefit from a just transition to an innovative, low-emission economy.
• They are guardians of their natural environment and taonga.

Funding Information

• The Council has allocated a total of $380,000 for this Fund in the 2024/2025 financial year.

What you can apply for?

• The Council welcomes innovative proposals that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Christchurch or proposals that grow the resilience to the impacts of climate change, such as projects that:
  • Help the community adopt more sustainable behaviours and practices.
  • Support the rapid transition to an innovative, low emission economy.
  • Increase the uptake of zero-emission mobility such as walking and cycling.
  • Reduce consumption, eliminate waste or support a circular economy.
  • Encourage the efficient use of resources such as energy, water, waste and materials.
  • Increase the uptake of renewable energy.
  • Support a regenerative food system and farming practices.
  • Enhance ecosystem resilience and nature-based, green infrastructure solutions.
  • Remove greenhouse gases directly from the atmospheres, such as forest or wetland restoration and soil carbon improvements.
  • Help them to better understand, prepare for, or respond to the environmental, social, cultural or economic impacts of climate change.

Targets

• The emission reduction targets, from a 2016/17 baseline are:
  • Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (excluding methane) for Christchurch by 2045, and a 50% reduction by 2030.
  • At least a 50% reduction by 2045 of methane emissions in Christchurch, and a 25% reduction by 2030.
  • For Christchurch City Council activities to be carbon neutral by 2030.
• Christchurch’s main sources of greenhouse gas emissions are from transport (55%), energy used in buildings and infrastructure (18%), farming (15%), solid waste and sewage treatment (8%) and industrial gases (4%).

Eligibility Criteria

• Community organisations, schools, social enterprises and businesses can apply to this fund.
• Applicants must be a legal entity registered in New Zealand, such as an incorporated society, charitable trust or limited liability company.
• Preference will be given to Christchurch-based organisations or partnerships involving Christchurch organisations.
• Individuals seeking funds will need to partner with a legal entity and include in the application a letter from the host entity endorsing the proposed project and partnership arrangement.
• Generally, applications led by government organisations will not be considered. However, partnerships involving government organisations are acceptable.
• Only one application per project will be accepted in each Council financial year (July to June). Organisations may put forward more than one project in a year.
• Applicants should have made reasonable efforts to secure funding from other sources before applying to this fund.

Ineligible

• The following will not generally be funded:
  • projects solely undertaking investigations such as scoping, research or feasibility.
  • activities whose primary purpose is the private gain or advancing private business interests without a public good component.
  • retrospective costs incurred or settled before the agreed commencement date of the funding agreement.
  • debt servicing or re-financing costs.
  • stock or capital market investment.
  • gambling or prize money.
  • payment of any legal expenditure, including costs or expenditures related to mediation disputes or ACC, Employment Tribunal, Small Claims Tribunal, Professional or Disciplinary Body hearings.

For more information, visit Christchurch City Council.