The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) are calling on whoever forms New Zealand’s next Government to prioritise five practical actions that would help unlock sustainable economic growth, strengthen resilience and keep New Zealand competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
Released ahead of November’s General Election, SBC and CLC’s joint 2026 Election Priorities: Policies for Driving Sustainable Growth sets out 20 business-led policy recommendations designed to support sustainable economic growth, with five priority actions identified for immediate focus.
Together, SBC members and CLC signatories represent more than 140 businesses and contribute more than 42% of New Zealand’s private sector GDP.
The briefing paper builds on the findings of the organisations’ recent Driving Sustainable Growth report, which found an innovation-led, low-emissions economy could add $22 billion to New Zealand’s GDP every year by 2035, rising to more than $33 billion annually by 2050, while reducing emissions by a further 6 percent per year by 2035 and 22 percent per year by 2050 compared to the current pathway.
SBC Chief Executive Mike Burrell says New Zealand has significant advantages to build on, from renewable energy resources and natural capital to innovative businesses and a strong export reputation, and says the question now is whether we can turn those advantages into long-term economic success
“The role of government is not to do all the heavy lifting. It is to create the conditions for investment by reducing barriers, providing policy certainty and partnering with business where market barriers are holding back commercially viable opportunities,” says Mr Burrell.
“Businesses are already investing in innovation, energy transition, resilience and productivity improvements. What they consistently tell us they need now is clear direction, durable policy settings and the confidence to keep investing. This paper focuses on practical measures that can help create those conditions,” says Mr Burrell.
The paper identifies five priority areas for whoever makes up the next Government:
- Commitment to maintaining New Zealand’s climate change response architecture to provide long-term investment certainty.
- Unlocking New Zealand’s clean energy advantage through a 30-year whole-of-energy vision.
- Accelerating uptake of low-emissions vehicles and supporting infrastructure by removing regulatory and pricing barriers.
- Treating climate and nature risks as economic resilience issues through stronger evidence, governance and planning.
- Enhancing Investment Boost for strategically important low-emissions technologies facing high upfront cost barriers.
These priorities are supported by a further 15 recommendations covering energy, transport, technology, resilience, nature, resource efficiency and industry transition, creating a mix of critical enablers and quick wins to deliver sustainable economic growth.
Mr Burrell says the opportunity now is not to start from scratch, but to move from diagnosis to delivery.
“If we want to grasp the economic opportunity ahead of us, we need to act now. Geopolitical disruptions over the last few years have pushed climate and nature down political agendas, and the regulatory environment for businesses has been inconsistent. We now need to refocus on the mid-to long term plan.”
Taken together, these recommendations represent a practical blueprint for lifting productivity, strengthening competitiveness and building a more resilient economy. They are focused on helping New Zealand make the most of its natural advantages while creating long-term value for businesses, communities and the wider economy.
CLC Convenor and Genesis Chief Executive Malcolm Johns says businesses across the economy are already investing in new technologies, cleaner energy solutions, more efficient operations and greater resilience because it makes good business sense to do so and supports long-term competitiveness.
“What business needs when making 20 to 50-year investment is policy certainty. Large-scale investments are made over decades, not election cycles. Durable and consistent policy settings help unlock the investment, innovation and productivity growth that will underpin New Zealand’s future prosperity.”
“New Zealand has the potential to be a leader in areas such as a highly electrified economy that leverages our natural energy advantages in renewable electricity. This will deliver lower total energy costs for Kiwi homes and businesses, lower emissions and more sustainable food and fibre sectors. Capturing those opportunities will require ambition, partnership and a clear plan.”
SBC and CLC are calling on whoever forms the next Government to adopt these recommendations as part of a long-term economic agenda that supports growth, resilience and competitiveness.
Mr Burrell says, “Our businesses stand ready to work constructively alongside whoever forms the next Government to help realise the significant economic opportunity ahead of New Zealand.”
Read the full paper here: 2026 Election Priorities: Policies for Driving Sustainable Growth.