Climate Change and Business Conference

Monday, 10 October 2016, 1:25 pm
Press Release: Environmental Defence Society

Environmental Defence Society fiona@eds.org.nz via cvent-planner.com

National and international leaders will come together tomorrow in Auckland at the 9th Australia – New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference to discuss the climate change challenge.

“The Paris agreement has just been ratified,” said Gary Taylor, Chief Executive of EDS, the conference organiser, “and New Zealand needs a strategic approach to how we reach the agreed objectives. The conference aims to stimulate debate on what that should look like and on the role of the business community during the required economic transformation.

Minister of Climate Change Issues, Paula Bennett will speak in the opening session and is expected to outline the Government’s view on New Zealand’s transition to a net zero emissions future.

A number of international speakers will then outline the evolving domestic policy settings in New Zealand’s key trading partners including Ilona Millar of the law firm Baker & McKenzie in Australia, Caroline Lambert, Climate and Environment Counsellor to the Australian EU Delegation, H.E Mark Gilbert, US Ambassador to New Zealand, and Professor Frank Jotzo from ANU who will speak on China.

Considerable debate is expected around the keystone of New Zealand’s climate policy, the emissions trading scheme. A panel of experts involved in the industry will debate the pros and cons of the scheme and consider the benefits of proposed reforms and the recalibration of the pricing signals.

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Financing both transition and adaptation will also be featured in the Conference. Emma Herd, Chief Executive Office of the Investor Group on Climate Change will present recent findings from a global initiative considering best practice climate reporting. Angus Duncan, Chairman of the Oregon Global Warming Commission and Gordon Price, Vancouver City Councillor, will present on their respective city’s adaptation programs and transition pathways.

The final session features an interview with Sir Jonathan Porritt, Director/Founder of the Forum for the Future followed by a panel discussion among New Zealand politicians, business and academic representatives.

“The final session will pull the different strands of the conference together, using the UK Climate Committee experience as an example,” said Gary Taylor.

“Our hope is to generate some constructive and workable ideas about New Zealand’s climate transition pathway and the respective roles of central and local government, business and the wider community.“

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Environmental Defence Society

EDS speaks for the environment. It has influence.

Since 1971, EDS has been driving environmental protection in Aotearoa New Zealand through law and policy change. That's why it's one of this country's most influential non- profit organisations when it comes to achieving better environmental outcomes.

EDS has expertise in key disciplines including law, planning, landscape and science. It operates as a policy think-tank, a litigation advocate, and a collaborator – bringing together the private and public sectors for constructive engagement.

EDS runs conferences and seminars on topical issues, including an annual Environmental Summit and the Climate Change and Business Conference.

EDS is a registered charity and donations to it are tax-deductible.