Environmental Defence Society fiona@eds.org.nz via cvent-planner.com
Climate Change and Business Conference
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.
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.“
ends