Our Climate Charter targets and progress
We've made commitments to improve the sustainability of our operations and respond to the growing needs of communities that may be vulnerable to climate change.
New Zealand Red Cross is a signatory to the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations. The Charter intends to provide a clear vision and principles to guide humanitarian action in the face of the climate and environment crises. As of June 2026, the Charter has 532 signatories across the globe, including dozens of National Societies that are part of our Movement.
Our Climate Commitments
New Zealand Red Cross is committed to reducing our environmental impact and strengthening community resilience to climate change. Since signing the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations in 2022, we have taken significant steps to understand and reduce our emissions.
In 2024/25, we achieved key milestones:
- Developed our first greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, establishing a clear baseline of our emissions.
- Identified priority areas for emissions reduction and agreed initial targets.
- Made progress on initiatives to support climate resilience across our people and communities.
Our emissions reduction targets
We have now set science-aligned targets to guide our work over the next decade:
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Reduce direct (Category 1) emissions by 43% by 2035, primarily through transitioning to lower-emissions vehicles.
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Reduce indirect (Category 2) emissions by 43% by 2035, focusing on energy use across our properties.
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Understand and reduce (Category 3) emissions, including business travel, with future targets to be set.
These targets reflect our commitment to take practical, measurable action while building our capability to deliver long-term change.
Looking ahead
We will continue to:
- Improve how we measure and manage our emissions
- Embed sustainable practices across our operations
- Work to help people adapt to the impacts of climate change through our programmes such as Good and Ready and our partnerships with Red Cross national societies in the Pacific, to build more resilient communities.
We measure our progress annually and will continue to strengthen our approach over time.
Further information
Find out more about our Climate Charter commitments:
Our Climate Charter commitments
Read about our response to climate change:
Find out more about the Climate Charter: