What Horizons is doing
Achieving these goals requires more than a talkfest, it requires real action. Over the last few years, we’ve made progress, including delivering most of the actions in Horizons’ Climate Action Plan.
Full time equivalent (FTE)
We’ve calculated emissions per full-time equivalent staff. that shows how our emissions have tracked per staff member. These reductions show that although Horizons emissions haven’t dropped in any year since 2020, per capita emissions have dropped substantially, a 740kg CO₂e per FTE (19.5%) reduction from 2020 to June 2024
As of 30 June 2020,
3.806 tCO₂e per FTE
As of 30 June 2024
3.066 tCO₂e per FTE
What are Horizons doing about greenhouse gas emissions?
Horizons greenhouse gas emissions reduction target
Avoiding the more severe impacts of climate change requires global temperatures to be kept close to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To do this requires a 43% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In line with our shared responsibility, Horizons intends to reduce our gross greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent by 2030 from 2019-20 levels. We are committed to reducing our emissions (gross emissions) rather than offsetting through carbon credits (net emissions). Our target is ambitious; it reflects the urgent global need to reduce emissions.
How have Horizons been tracking to meet its emissions target?
Since we adopted our target in 2023, we’ve made some, but not much, progress. Our emission reduction target remains achievable, provided we prioritise replacing our 4x4 diesel Utes with low-emission alternatives asap.
There have been a few issues we didn’t anticipate when we set our target. We’ve got more staff, and consequently more vehicles. Most of our vehicles are 4x4s. Suitable low-emission vehicle options to replace those are only now becoming available, far later than we thought they would. We’ve still got a bunch of 4x4 diesel Utes staff need for get around the backcountry and do their jobs. Emissions from those Utes make up over half of Horizons’ annual emissions. If we substantially reduce those emissions, we can meet our target.
How are emissions measured?
Carbon dioxide equivalents are used to standardise the effects of all greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. 1tCO₂e means greenhouse gases that will have the equivalent effect as one tonne (1000 kilograms) of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. Horizons emissions are measured and then audited independently using international standards.
What about the EV buses, they must have made a difference?
They have, but they aren’t included in the emissions we measure, and we won’t fudge the rules to bring them in. The shift to EV buses has resulted in an annual reduction of approximately 1,900 tCO₂e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent). This reduction is almost twice Horizons’ total emissions in 2023–24.
*Inventories need checking and auditing. There is a lag of 6-8 months from the end of the financial year until our audited and verified emissions inventory is completed.