New book promotes responsible action on carbon trading

Climate change action should be responsible economically as well as environmentally. This is the key message of a new book being launched in Auckland today: A Stable Climate for Business.



Business NZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says there’s a lot of misunderstanding about climate change as it has become very complicated and politicised, and there was a need for an easy-to-read summary.



“The book shows how businesses and the communities they support need a stable economic climate in order to succeed.



“New Zealand companies themselves are overwhelmingly responsible,” Mr O’Reilly said. “Most large industrial companies have already scaled back to their 1990 levels of emissions or are operating close to world best practice for energy efficiency.



“Moreover we are already a world leader in renewable energy, with over 65% of our power generated from renewable sources, and we barely contribute to world pollution, accounting for less than a quarter of one per cent of the world’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.”



Mr O’Reilly said this context should be kept in mind when considering how we design and introduce an emissions trading soon.



“New Zealand needs to act in concert with other countries - otherwise we will get higher costs and consequently economic damage without helping the environment much at all.”



A Stable Climate for Business explains the key facts of the climate change debate and makes recommendations for businesses to take advantages of climate change opportunities and for the Government regarding timing and content of climate change policies.







*A Stable Climate for Business is available on www.businessnz.org.nz under ‘commentaries’ or on: http://www.businessnz.org.nz/file/1339/A%20STABLE%20CLIMATE%20FOR%20BUSINESS.pdf