The Climate Leaders Coalition is celebrating its 100th signatory as businesses commit to tackling greenhouse gas emissions for a low-carbon economy.
Agritech and herd improvement co-operative LIC has joined the initiative which includes a large number of transportation and energy firms.
Coalition convenor and Z Energy chief executive Mike Bennetts says the coalition is making a lot of progress.
“We established the coalition nearly a year ago to create a movement for business action on climate change. Over that time we’ve grown from 60 to 100 signatories and continue to gain the momentum we need to help transition New Zealand to a low emissions economy.
“The leadership shown by coalition signatories is helping others make faster progress on a range of issues including reducing emissions from transport, process heat, waste, and supply chains. It’s also become a community for organisations to collaborate on topics including adaptation and innovation,” Bennetts says.
The coalition now represents 60% of New Zealand’s gross emissions, employs nearly 180,000 people, and makes up more than a third of private sector GDP.
LIC is a farmer-owned co-operative which supplies genetics to breed about 80% of the national dairy herd, diagnostic testing, farm software and automation technology.
Chief executive Wayne McNee says they joined the coalition because the co-op is committed to playing its part to reduce emissions and take action on climate change.
“As a co-operative with 10,300 dairy farmer shareholders, we understand the role we can play in driving positive change with collective action on climate change.
“A core part of our business is providing farmers with superior genetics, and through this work we’re aiming to drive sustainability improvements and reduce emissions on-farm.”
Climate change minister James Shaw says the coalition milestone is an “incredible achievement”.
“I thank them for their commitment and their leadership. It helps demonstrate that action on climate change is not just a challenge but an opportunity to adopt new ways of doing business which can be both sustainable and profitable.
“The work of the Climate Leaders Coalition and so many other organisations, iwi, and individuals across New Zealand also helps support the Government’s work to put a climate change action plan in place built around the framework of the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill, which is currently open for public submissions.
“100 Climate Leaders Coalition members signed-up in just under a year is a great milestone and a clear signal that New Zealand business cares about climate change.
“I want to acknowledge coalition convenor and Z Energy chief executive, Mike Bennetts, and Abbie Reynolds, executive director of the sustainable business council, for driving this important work and helping New Zealand better face a future in which we can’t afford to ignore climate change,” Shaw says.
The coalition includes a 13-member chief executives leadership group which includes Ports of Auckland, KiwiRail, Toyota, Air New Zealand, Fonterra and Z Energy.
Among the coalition signatories are Freightways, Toll, TIL Logistics Group, Waste Management, Dempsey Wood and Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports are also among other signatories.
Many of those in the coalition have already taken measures to electrify their fleets.
The coalition celebrated its first anniversary at the end of the Embark business action on climate change event on July 24 at SkyCity, Auckland.
