Climate Change Business Grant

Successful Climate Change Business Grant recipients, July 2024: 

With a total funding pool of $50,000, the council awarded grants to three projects, each with the potential to make a significant impact on our community. 

• The Cargo e-Bike Initiative 
  • Applicant: Bike Hub Nelson Inc 
  • Amount awarded: $8,970.56 

• Low-emissions commuting 
  • Applicant: Businesses for Climate Action/Mission Zero 
  • Amount awarded: $20,000 

• Advertising public transport on the back of the e-buses 
  • Applicant: Nelson Transport Strategy Group, Nelsust Inc 
  • Amount awarded: $21,000 

Information about the previous grant round can be found below: 

The purpose of this grant is to enable business-led initiatives, activities and projects which contribute to climate change mitigation measures. The grant aims to contribute to a collective goal creating a win-win scenario where businesses thrive, costs are minimised, and the broader community benefits. 

We encourage grant applicants to propose projects that not only benefit their own operations but also positively impact other local businesses and residents. The extent to which proposals reflect kaupapa Māori or is of benefit to Māori will also be considered. Council welcomes innovative proposals that directly or indirectly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within Nelson.

It is important to note that carbon sequestration projects fall outside the scope of this grant. Projects exclusively targeting waste minimisation are already covered by the Waste Minimisation grants provided by the Nelson City Council. 

Proposals will need to calculate their emissions baseline to ensure outcomes can be measured and emissions reduction demonstrated. 

• For direct emission reductions: Applicants will need to demonstrate an emissions reduction pathway after 6 months from project commencement, and an absolute or intensity reduction in emissions after 12 months. 
• For indirect emission reductions: Applicants will need to estimate the expected emissions reduction when possible. 

During FY19/20 reporting period, Nelson’s total gross GHG emissions were 330,980 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Transport was the largest GHG emission emitting sector, producing 61.1% of Nelson’s total gross GHG emissions. Stationary Energy (i.e. non-transport energy use) was the second largest GHG emission emitting sector, producing 14.3% of Nelson’s total gross GHG emissions, followed by Waste. 

Nelson City Council would like to encourage the reduction of GHG in the highest emitting sectors. 

How to apply 

The application guidelines provide some examples of projects which we might support. 

Applications for projects of $5,000 and over are required to contact climatechangeteam@ncc.govt.nz , with “Business Grant” in the subject line, to assess if their project qualifies prior to completing the application process. 

Please carefully read the Climate Change Business Grant application guidelines before applying. The guidelines also detail the full criteria and exclusions for the grant programme. Our staff are happy to chat at any time if you have any questions or would like further understanding of the fund criteria or how to apply (email climatechangeteam@ncc.govt.nz, with “Business Grant” in the subject line). 

Evaluation criteria 

Projects will be assessed by a panel of specialist officers using the assessment criteria and the following evaluation factors: 

• Does the project benefit Nelson? 
• Will the project result in either a new activity, or a significant expansion of an existing activity outside of ‘business as usual’? 
• What is your ability/track record and capacity to deliver the project? 
• Does the project directly contribute to emissions or energy reduction? 
• Does the project indirectly contribute to emissions or energy reduction? Is the estimated reduction in emissions significant? 
• What does success look like for your project and how will it be measured? 

The extent to which proposals reflect Kaupapa Māori (integrating Māori traditional knowledge, skills, attitudes and values)*, or is of benefit to/involve Māori**, will be a key consideration in our evaluation. 

This includes: 

• Kaitiakitanga (guardianship): Striving for the collective goal of environmental respect and sustainability, focusing on how resources can be utilised for the benefit of many. 
• Whanaungatanga (building collaborative relationships): Exploring ways your project can foster meaningful partnerships to effect change, potentially involving collaboration with iwi organisations or rangitahi when appropriate. 
• Manaakitanga (compassion):  Emphasising kindness and respect in interactions, giving back to the community, and valuing the knowledge and perspectives of  others. 
• Mahaki (generosity and humility): Sharing knowledge with openness and humility to empower the community and promote collective wellbeing. 
• Ako (learning and teaching): Committing to educate future generations – both Māori and non-Māori, while preserving and honouring ancestral knowledge.  

* Principles of Kaupapa Māori: https://whatworks.org.nz/kaupapa-maori/  

** Section 2 – Empowering Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand's First Emissions Reduction Plan (https://environment.govt.nz/assets/publications/Aotearoa-New-Zealands-first-emissions-reduction-plan.pdf) and the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy (https://www.tetauihu.nz/) provide additional information to assist this component of your application.