Carbon News
  • Members
    • Login
      Forgot Password?
    • Not a member? Subscribe
    • Forgot Password
      Back to Login
    • Not a member? Subscribe
  • Home
  • New Zealand
    • Politics
    • Energy
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon emissions
    • Transport
    • Forestry
    • Business
  • Markets
    • Analysis
    • NZ carbon price
  • International
    • Australia
    • United States
    • China
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Asia
    • Pacific
    • Antarctic/Arctic
    • Africa
    • South America
    • United Nations
  • News Direct
    • Media releases
    • Climate calendar
  • About Carbon News
    • Contact us
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Service
    • Policies

Air New Zealand announces changes to Sustainability Advisory Panel

2 May 2024


Media release | Former Green Party co-leader and minister for climate change, James Shaw, is joining Air New Zealand's Sustainability Advisory Panel.

Matteo Mirolo, the Head of Policy and Strategy in the Aviation Contrails team at Bill Gates’ Climate Foundation’s energy startup, Breakthrough Energy, also joins the Sustainability Advisory Panel.


Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Kiri Hannifin, says James Shaw’s dedication to progressing New Zealand’s lower carbon future through the Zero Carbon Act has been transformational for future generations, as has the urgency and passion he has brought to the topic of climate change through his political career.

 

“Aviation has a significant challenge to transition away from fossil fuels – it's hard, complex and expensive,” says Ms Hannifin. “But if we want to continue our role to connect New Zealanders, our tourism and trade to the world for the foreseeable future, we must decarbonise or risk being left behind.

 

“Outside expertise is critical to helping us navigate this, and we’re incredibly privileged to welcome someone of James Shaw’s calibre to our Sustainability Advisory Panel. His tenacity, passion for New Zealand’s unique biodiversity, and strong knowledge of climate science will all play a valuable role in helping Air New Zealand steer and stay the course.”

 

Mr Shaw says “I am really pleased to be joining the Air New Zealand Sustainability Advisory Panel at a time when the airline and the entire industry face the huge challenge of transitioning to net-zero. Air New Zealand has for many years demonstrated that they are not shy about engaging with this challenge and, in fact, want to lead on it. My aim will be to both challenge and support the airline to go first and show the way.”

 

Mr Shaw joins the panel following the recent resignation of Sam Mostyn AO as Panel Chair, due to her appointment as Governor-General of Australia.

 

“We’re so proud of Sam and thank her wholeheartedly for the significant role she has played in Air New Zealand’s sustainability journey,” says Ms Hannifin.

 

“Her appointment as Governor-General reflects the high level of integrity and authenticity she brings to her work, and we wish her all the best as she transitions to her new role.”

 

In March, Air New Zealand also welcomed Matteo Mirolo to its Sustainability Advisory Panel.

 

In Matteo’s current role, he leads research into contrails and non-CO2 aviation emissions. Before this, Matteo was the Aviation Manager at Transport and Environment, the European Union’s largest transport non-governmental organisation where he led their aviation programme, focusing on sustainable aviation fuel.

 

“Being Europe-based, Matteo brings not only his considerable expertise to the table but also a vital international context and best practice which Air New Zealand is eager to understand and learn from,” says Ms Hannifin.

 

Air New Zealand’s Sustainability Advisory Panel advises the airline’s sustainability team, Executive, and Board on key issues such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel, emissions, regulatory and global trends and challenges. It aims to provide an external perspective to Air New Zealand’s sustainability work, together with world-class thinking.

print this story


More >
Media releases
More >

Biodiversity plan is ‘light on detail and heavy on vague intentions’

Today 10:30am

Media Release - WWF New Zealand | The government’s plan to tackle Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis lacks ambition and fails to match the scale and urgency of the challenge.

Gas decline increases urgency for new electricity generation

Today 10:30am

Media release – Transpower | Declining gas availability means New Zealand has to lift the pace at which it is delivering new electricity generation to reliably meet growing demand over the coming years, a new report from Transpower shows.

Hopeful new way to measure human progress

Mon 30 Jun 2025

Media release - University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau | In response to the climate crisis, a new way to measure how well people and nature are living together has been announced in the world's leading scientific journal Nature.

Sustainability rising in importance amid increasing strain on professionals

Thu 26 Jun 2025

Media release - Sustainable Business Council | Research released today into New Zealand’s sustainability profession reveals a compelling picture of a profession which is gaining strategic traction, while grappling with systemic challenges.

Most staple food crop production will face big losses due to climate change

Wed 25 Jun 2025

Media Release – Springer Nature | Most staple food crops are expected to experience substantial production losses due to climate change, even when mitigation measures to limit the impact of climate change are considered.

Latest trawl bycatch numbers 'a grim wake-up call'

24 Jun 2025

Media release – Greenpeace | The latest fisheries bycatch data paints a grim picture, with trawlers hauling up thousands of kilograms of coral and killing hundreds of fur seals and seabirds over a 12 month period.

Global survey finds 8 out of 10 people support taxing oil and gas corporations to pay for climate damages

23 Jun 2025

Media Release – Oxfam Aotearoa | Oxfam's research finds that 585 of the world's largest and most polluting fossil fuel companies made $583 billion in profits in 2024, a 68% increase since 2019.

Kiwi farmers unaware of positive public opinion on their environmental performance

19 Jun 2025

Media Release | Close to 90% of NZ's commercial farmers believe their environmental performance is good, according to a survey of almost 3000 farmers, while less than half that number think the public agrees.

Aviation sector’s climate claims unsupported by credible transition plans

18 Jun 2025

Media Release | New analysis finds over-reliance on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and lack of investment in zero-emission tech, risking long-term decarbonisation failure.

Government undermines regional powers to protect coastal biodiversity

16 Jun 2025

Media Release | The Environmental Defence Society opposes the Government’s decision to press ahead with amendments to the Resource Management Act that severely curtail the ability of regional councils to manage the impacts of fishing on coastal marine biodiversity.

Carbon News

Subscriptions, Advertising & General

[email protected]

Editorial

[email protected]

We welcome comments, news tips and suggestions - please also use this address to submit all media releases for News Direct).

Useful Links
Home About Carbon News Contact us Advertising Subscribe Service Policies
New Zealand
Politics Energy Agriculture Carbon emissions Transport Forestry Business
International
Australia United States China Europe United Kingdom Canada Asia Pacific Antarctic/Arctic Africa South America United Nations
Home
Markets
Analysis NZ carbon price
News Direct
Media releases Climate calendar

© 2008-2025 Carbon News. All Rights Reserved. • Your IP Address: 216.73.216.119 • User account: Sign In

Please wait...
Audit log: