NZ Lagging Behind in Global Green Race, Says New Report
New Zealand Lagging Behind in Global Green Race, Says New
Report
Pure Advantage
highlights New Zealand's position in the global green race
and begins the discussion on how we can become a greener,
wealthier nation
Auckland, 11 June 2012 - Pure Advantage, the not-for-profit organisation developing a green growth strategy for New Zealand, today released a significant report into New Zealand's position in the global green economy. It details how New Zealand is currently lagging behind the rest of the world and how industry can encourage green economic growth to ensure a greener, wealthier future for all New Zealanders.
Entitled ‘New Zealand’s
Position in the Green Race’, the report examines the
global green race and provides an appraisal of New
Zealand’s environmental performance across a range of
parameters. This report is the first step in Pure
Advantage's process and is designed to be a conversation
starter about the potential opportunities for New Zealand in
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the broader green
economy. The report explains how green growth is a path to
improved economic performance, better paying jobs, the
protection of our environment, and improved health outcomes
for New Zealand.
The report highlights that what has
been missing from the discussion over the change to a green
economy, is the many benefits of green growth. Much of the
debate in New Zealand to date has focused on the downside,
the various costs and obligations. But rather than a burden,
green growth can be an economic pathway to create
sustainable wealth and promises a revolution in how we
structure our economy and society.
Sir Stephen
Tindall, a Pure Advantage Trustee, says this report lays the
foundation for future action by proving that green and
growth can go together, saying: “Pure Advantage recognises
that prioritising green growth in NZ’s economic strategy
and direction is going to require robust analysis, coupled
with strong leadership. While acknowledging that government
and the private sector need to work together, the first step
must be taken by industry.”
Pure Advantage is
working with corporate leaders who are willing to take a
role in shaping New Zealand’s green growth future and aims
to engage corporates, industry groups, academics, iwi, and
the government, by positioning the discussion towards the
huge opportunities offered by the emergence of a green
growth economy.
Sir Stephen went on to say that global
green growth is potentially worth NZ$6 trillion a year and
represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New
Zealand to improve its economy for the better. Not only
could this create further wealth for the country, but it
brings with it significant environmental benefits.
The
report identifies key examples from countries around the
world that have begun to benefit from the emerging green
economy, including Australia, the UK, Sweden, and Israel and
offers a broad based look at where New Zealand’s strengths
may lie.
The report finds that while New Zealand’s
international branding relies heavily on the competitive
advantage of our 100% Pure New Zealand brand, we continue to
slide down the OECD economic performance tables and our
relative quality of life is decreasing. It claims that
successive governments have failed to make the long term
strategic decisions needed to address New Zealand’s
economic slide, while at the same time missing opportunities
to keep the country green and clean. For example, New
Zealand currently has 1.6 million poorly insulated homes and
a high extinction rate of biodiversity, added to declining
water quality and the 5th highest CO2 emissions per capita
in OECD.
Sir Stephen continued: “We have shown in
the report that New Zealand has the opportunity to create
wealth by focusing on the global shift to green growth."
New Zealand's Position in the Green Race is the first key piece of research that Pure Advantage has released, and this report is about broadly assessing New Zealand's performance and opportunities while developing a vision for New Zealand's future.
The report is a
pre-cursor to a macroeconomic review that Pure Advantage has
commissioned, the first of its kind in New Zealand, to
identify New Zealand’s key high value green growth
opportunities. The review has been undertaken by
internationally respected economists Vivid Economics in
conjunction with the University of Auckland Business School
and is due to be released in the third quarter of
2012.
Interested parties can find out more by downloading the full report at www.pureadvantage.org.
ENDS