Business Growth Agenda doesn’t go far enough

Business Growth Agenda doesn’t go far enough says Sustainable Business Council

The Sustainable Business Council has welcomed the high level goal set out in the Government’s ‘Future Direction’ Business Growth Agenda but says the document lacks a plan to achieve it.
The goal is to improve the quality of New Zealand’s natural resources while doubling exports by 2025.

Penny Nelson, executive director of the Sustainable Business Council, says supporting New Zealand’s reputation for a quality environment is a priority for businesses, but more needs to be done to align government and business efforts.

“Business leaders strongly support that goal,” she said. “The Government needs to engage with business leaders on how to get there. Business leaders don’t think there’s enough of a plan to achieve it.”

Ms Nelson said biodiversity loss needs to be addressed, and the energy efficiency projects discussed in the document are good but don’t go far enough.

“Even though the intensity of New Zealand’s energy and greenhouse gas emissions has decreased, there needs to be more focus on how to get to a low carbon economy. There is a business risk in not doing this.

“The Government needs to address the environmental impacts from growth and involve business in cross-sector initiatives to overcome them.”

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