Hon James Shaw
Minister for Climate Change Minister
12 July 2018 MEDIA STATEMENT
Minister welcomes big business emissions commitment.
The Minister for Climate Change strongly welcomes the commitment by the new Climate Leaders Coalition of 60 businesses
to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions and leading the way to the low-carbon economy.
“These 60 companies - from Z Energy, to Spark, Vodafone, Air New Zealand, Contact Energy, Meridian, Ngai Tahu Holdings
and Ravensdown - make up nearly half of our country’s total greenhouse gas emissions when you include their supply
chains.
“So to have them formally join the challenge to tackle climate change and reduce their emissions is a huge boost towards
our goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” says James Shaw.
“Other countries have business groups committed to cutting emissions too, but in no other country do those groups
represent almost half their country’s emissions. These business leaders can see what’s possible and they’re up for the
challenge.
“I am also delighted to see their support for two key parts of the upcoming Zero Carbon Bill, which are to establish an
independent Climate Change Commission and set regular carbon ‘budgets” as stepping stones to reach net zero emissions by
2050.
“The fact that their commitment also extends to working with their suppliers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as
well shows these companies are serious about joining the collective responsibility we all have for reducing our climate
pollution.
“When you put today’s declaration from the Climate Leaders Coalition together with the recent commitment made by New
Zealand’s Farming Leaders to support our goal of New Zealand achieving net zero emissions by 2050, you can see
significant momentum is building,” says Mr Shaw.
“These demonstrations of leadership from the private sector just go to show that New Zealand is ready to take on the
challenge of tackling climate change and hungry to seize on the opportunity to upgrade our economy, not just so that
it’s ‘clean and green’ but also more productive, higher value and better paid.
“And I encourage all New Zealanders to have their say on the Zero Carbon Bill before the deadline for submissions close
on Thursday 19 July.”
Submissions can be made through the Ministry for the Environment’s website at ourclimateyoursay.nz