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The government has welcomed the commitment from the new Climate Leaders Coalition of 60 businesses to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and lead the way to the low-carbon economy.
Z Energy, Westpac, Spark, Vodafone, Air New Zealand, Contact Energy, Meridian, Ngai Tahu Holdings and Ravensdown are among the 60 companies that signed the CEO Climate Change Statement.
According to Minister for Climate Change James Shaw, these businesses make up nearly half of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions when you include their supply chains - and to have them formally take-up the challenge to tackle climate change is a huge step towards reaching the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
“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,” he said. “These business leaders can see what’s possible and they’re up for the challenge.”
Shaw noted that these businesses also support the upcoming Zero Carbon Bill and are committed to working with their suppliers to likewise reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
“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,” he added.
The minister encourages New Zealanders to have their say on the Zero Carbon Bill before the deadline for submissions closes on July 19.
