News
Business Leaders Sound Alarm Over New Zealand's Failing Green Credentials
WELLINGTON, June 11 (Bernama) -- A report commissioned by a group of New Zealand business leaders has warned that the country is facing "colossal risks" to its economy and environment with its lack of a green growth strategy, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
"New Zealand's Positions in the Green Race," published by the not-for-profit Pure Advantage organisation on Monday, said the country was lagging behind the rest of the world in environmentally sustainable growth.
The report explains how green growth could lead to improved economic performance, higher paying jobs, environmental protection, and improved health.
It details how New Zealand had fallen from the top of 146 countries in US-based Yale University's Environmental Performance Index in 2006 to 14th in this year's index, "bypassed by developing countries such as Slovakia and Costa Rica."
New Zealand was "neither well positioned to be in the vanguard of the global green economy nor to seize green growth opportunities as they arise," and current government initiatives were not sufficient to drive the progression of New Zealand's domestic economy and infrastructure, it said.
"Our reliance on our environment for branding, export base and sense of identity means there are colossal risks and substantial costs if we continue with business as usual," it said.
Pure Advantage trustee and retail magnate, Stephen Tindall said the organisation was working with corporate leaders and aimed to engage corporates, industry groups, academics, indigenous Maori groups and the government in discussing the opportunities offered by the emergence of a green growth economy.
"We have shown in the report that New Zealand has the opportunity to create wealth by focusing on the global shift to green growth," said Tindall in a statement.
Pure Advantage had commissioned a macroeconomic review to identify New Zealand's key high value green growth opportunities, and it was due to be released in the third quarter this year.
"New Zealand's Positions in the Green Race," published by the not-for-profit Pure Advantage organisation on Monday, said the country was lagging behind the rest of the world in environmentally sustainable growth.
The report explains how green growth could lead to improved economic performance, higher paying jobs, environmental protection, and improved health.
It details how New Zealand had fallen from the top of 146 countries in US-based Yale University's Environmental Performance Index in 2006 to 14th in this year's index, "bypassed by developing countries such as Slovakia and Costa Rica."
New Zealand was "neither well positioned to be in the vanguard of the global green economy nor to seize green growth opportunities as they arise," and current government initiatives were not sufficient to drive the progression of New Zealand's domestic economy and infrastructure, it said.
"Our reliance on our environment for branding, export base and sense of identity means there are colossal risks and substantial costs if we continue with business as usual," it said.
Pure Advantage trustee and retail magnate, Stephen Tindall said the organisation was working with corporate leaders and aimed to engage corporates, industry groups, academics, indigenous Maori groups and the government in discussing the opportunities offered by the emergence of a green growth economy.
"We have shown in the report that New Zealand has the opportunity to create wealth by focusing on the global shift to green growth," said Tindall in a statement.
Pure Advantage had commissioned a macroeconomic review to identify New Zealand's key high value green growth opportunities, and it was due to be released in the third quarter this year.