By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA

Wellington, Sept 10 NZPA - A parliamentary agency which exists to improve the environment has increased its use of electricity, air travel and vehicles, but still claims its carbon footprint has shrunk.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's annual report for 2008/2009, tabled in Parliament today, said the office had managed to decrease its carbon footprint despite large increases in its polluting activities.

Air travel had increased from 32,000 km to 34,000km, emitting 5.98 tonnes of carbon, a 16 percent increase on last year.

Rental car use had doubled from 1500km to 3000km with emissions of 0.73 tonnes compared to 0.36 tonnes.

Taxi use was also on the rise, up from 1000km to 1500km, with emissions up from 0.32 tonnes to 0.48 tonnes -- a 50 percent increase.

Electricity use also increased from 49,000kWh to 52,000kWh, however the commissioner, Jan Wright, said changes to calculations meant tonnes emitted had fallen from 10.15 to 8.63 tonnes, a fall of 15 percent.

The report did not explain how using more electricity meant a reduction in carbon emissions, but said in a note: "The conversion tables provided by the Minister of the Environment above were changed since 2007, accounting for the decrease in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted although there was an increase in actual electricity use."

Because of the change in calculation for electricity the commissioner said the overall tonnes of carbon emitted fell 0.15 percent from 15.97 to 15.82 tonnes.

The report said the actual increase in electricity use, air travel and cars was due to an increase in the number of staff, office renovations and more regional visits.

Elsewhere in the report Dr Wright said reducing power use was important.

"There are many environmental impacts associated with energy, and I have a long-standing interest in clever ways of reducing energy consumption in order to reduce the associated environment impacts," Dr Wright said.

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