Sustain Newsletter Feb 2, 2009

Sustain : NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development Newsletter

Emissions trading: bell sounds for round two

Submissions to the Parliamentary select committee set up to review the emissions trading scheme close February 13. The review arises from the National-Act coalition agreement which led to an announcement "suspending" the scheme. However, Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee in this New Zealand Herald report has since made it clear there will still be an emissions trading scheme. Committee chair, United Future leader Peter Dunne, has also made it clear groups wanting to relitigate the science of climate change or to grandstand on the issue are likely to find themselves shut out from appearing before the select committee. In this report his spokesperson says: "The overwhelming desire is to actually get somet hing established that's enduring and has political support as much as possible." Prime Minister John Key says he wants the committee to report back in March.

Support builds for ETS schemes

Meantime, the EU and UN are calling for the USA and others to join in a global emissions trading scheme. US president Obama has also made it clear, during a speech made while signing new orders to the EPA to review vehicle emissions issues, that he favours concerted international action: "Rigid ideology has overruled sound science. Special interests have overshadowed common sense .To protect our climate and our collective security, we must call together a truly global coalition.It is time for America to lead because this moment of peril must be turned into one of progress."

Major US companies concur with ETS

Meantime, a group of large U.S. companies, including the troubled Big Three automakers, coal producers and BP, last week offered the US Congress a blueprint for greenhouse gas regulation. They also urged no further delay, saying it would increase the costs of managing climate change. The U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a group of 26 big companies and several environmental organizations, proposed reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050 through an economy-wide cap-and-trade program. "It will not be cheap and it will not be easy," said Jim Rogers, chief executive of electricity supplier Duke Energy Corp, the third-largest U.S. consumer of coal. But Rogers and other CEOs from the group urged Congress to pass a new law this year, saying delays will cost the battered economy more in th e long-term.

Mix of emissions pricing and other policies needed

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, an organisation with 200 leading corporates, says no single act that will meet the challenges that lie ahead and yet allow sustainable development. Rather a mix of policies, technologies and mechanisms will be required, with enough flexibility to balance global, regional and national approaches. These include emissions pricing.

Appeal of 'green products' growing despite recession

New Boston Consulting Group survey of some 9,000 consumers in East Asia, Europe and North America finds more shoppers deliberately sought and bought green products in 2008 than in the year before, "Capturing the green advantage of consumer companies" is finding the appeal of green products growing despite recession. There is a willingness to pay a premium for green products, but not more than 5-10%.

Commerce Commission warns Hyundai on advertising claims

Hyundai Motors New Zealand Limited has been warned by the Commerce Commission about comparative claims made in advertising for one of its hybrid vehicles. The warning relates to claims made about results from the 2007 World Solar Challenge used for an advertising campaign that ran on billboards and on television during July and August 2008.

BMW named as greenest premium manufacturer

BMW has the lowest average CO2 emissions of any premium car manufacturer for the second year in a row according to new independent research by www.cleangreencars.co.uk. Courtesy of its award-winning EfficientDynamics programme, BMW records a UK fleet average of 159.4g/km based on all BMWs sold in 2008.

ecostore's green credentials turn platinum

ecostore has announced its production facility, Ecotech Solutions, is the first New Zealand producer of cleaning and personal care products to attain Enviro-Mark®NZ - Platinum certification. It provides consumers with confidence in the environmental credibility of ecostore's production facility.

SKM wins international award

Leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has been recognised by the Environmental Business Journal (EBJ) with a Gold Medal for Business Achievement. more »

Sustainable architecture

New Zealand's first comprehensive book on Sustainable Urban Development, Building and Architecture, 'A deeper shade of Green', is available here.

EVENTS

25 Feb 2009 | 2nd Annual Urban Design & Infrastructure Planning Summit, Rendezvous Hotel, Auckland. The wave of environmental challenges, the ability of urban centres to cope with the impacts of high growth and the physical separation of home from work and recreation need to be re-addressed as we look forward to the future. more »

9 Mar 2009 | Developing & Implementing a Sustainability Strategy in Your Organisation, Museum Hotel, Wellington. This 2-day, in depth seminar gives you the tools and techniques you need to ensure the move towards ensuring that your organization not only thinks sustainability, but puts those ideas into action. more »

11 Mar 2009 | Fundamentals of Carbon & Emissions Management, Museum Hotel, Wellington. Recent growth in awareness of the climate change agenda and its importance to business presents an entirely new paradigm for any organization to both reduce risk and build strategic competitive advantage. Ensure you take advantage of the opportunities and challenges that a carbon-constrained global economy presents to your business. more » Also at the Mercure Hotel, Auckland, March 16, 2009 more »

16 Mar 2009 | Developing & Implementing a Sustainability Strategy in Your Organisation, Novotel Ellerslie, Auckland/ This 2-day, in depth seminar gives you the tools and techniques you need to ensure the move towards ensuring that your organization not only thinks sustainability, but puts those ideas into action. more »

25 Mar 2009 | Emissions Trading & Climate Change Policy Summit, Duxton Hotel, Wellington. "A modified ETS is seen as the most likely outcome of a special select committee review of climate change policy". (NZ Herald, November 2008) more »

15 Apr 2009 | 2nd Carbon Finance, Accounting and Reporting Conference, Wellington. 1 intensive day to
provide you with another opportunity to discuss with experts about carbon trading, markets, measurement and management more »

16 - 18 Apr 2009 | Property Rights and Sustainability, University of Auckland, Auckland. The University of Auckland Faculty of Law and the New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law (NZCEL) bring together leading academics, judges, government officials, policy analysts and practitioners to examine the future of property rights within the context of sustainable development. The conference will open with a public address from Judge Christopher Weeramantry (former Vice President of the International Court of Justice) and will feature presentations from a number of prominent scholars and commentators on property rights, sustainability, the environment and resource management. For more information and the call for papers visit www.nzcel-conf.auckland.ac.nz.

ENDS

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