KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Government is insisting all of its departments buy environmentally-friendly goods and services. Here's what some other countries, states and organisations are doing.
China
China's state asset watchdog pledged on Wednesday to crack down on state-owned firms that fail to meet energy efficiency targets and the leaders of non-compliant firms could lose their jobs.
Falling in line behind central government targets to reduce energy intensity and pollution, several ministries have issued rules and new initiatives targeting companies that pollute and use too much energy.
France
Solar panels on stadium roofs, recycled pitch-watering systems and fair trade snacks for half time should make the World Cup a model for environmentally friendly sporting events, French officials said on Tuesday.
The competition kicks off next week and is expected to generate some 570,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual output of the tournament's Pacific Ocean outsiders Western Samoa.
North America and Europe
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has established the world's first low carbon fuel standard requiring fuel providers to reduce the carbon of fuels sold in the state.
Schwarzenegger hopes that carbon levels in fuels will reduce by 10 per cent by 2020.
Other states have also latched on to the idea including British Columbia and Ontario.
The European Union is also on board, announcing a new fuel standard for motor vehicles similar to California's.
