The Tree People

Genesis Energy is a major supplier and generator of energy, in New Zealand global warming does not just mean warmer days. It will also result in more extreme weather events in New Zealand such as flooding, storms, droughts and heatwaves.

This change in our climate is being caused by an increase in heat-trapping greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere. Most greenhouse gases emitted in New Zealand come from transport and farming.

Cows and sheep are big contributors of methane to our atmosphere: there are a lot of them in New Zealand, and they belch out a lot of methane because they eat a lot of grass. Around 10% of New Zealand’s greenhouse gases come from energy production, such as coal-fired power stations. Which is why we at Genesis Energy are trying to make a difference.

We know that our Huntly Power Station is a large emitter of carbon dioxide but we, and the country, can’t afford to shut it down in the near future. It is New Zealand’s largest power station, and supplies a large amount of electricity to our homes and industries.

Without Huntly Power Station, New Zealand would run out of electricity. So we are trying to make the Power Station more efficient – and get more power from burning the same amount of fuel. We are also researching ways of trapping and storing carbon dioxide before it goes up the chimney at a power station.

There are things we can do as a country, business, school or individual to help the environment. We can all use less energy, and we can plant more trees and shrubs, which absorb carbon dioxide. We can take less trips by car and use more public transport. And we can switch off lights and appliances when we are not using them.

At the individual level, these changes may be small. But when the small changes are added up, they can make a big difference. And that’s where the idea for Tree People came from. Together we can make a big difference to tomorrow.