This year’s Conference of the Parties (COP28), which kicks off in Dubai at the end of the month, is set to have a strong focus on business and its leadership role in the transition to net zero. SBC’s Executive Director Mike Burrell and our Head of Climate & Nature Antonia Burbidge will be attending COP28 in an effort to bring home international insights and to showcase the mahi New Zealand business is doing in the climate space.
Mike and Antonia will be joined on the ground in Dubai by a number of our members and partner organisations. We asked them why they’re going, what they’re hoping to achieve and what they think a successful outcome might look like – here’s what some of them had to say.
Becky Lloyd – Global Growth Officer at Generate Zero
“Generate Zero is heading to COP28 to showcase our data-driven carbon emissions platform, Footprint, to the world. We are keen to build meaningful connections with other climate tech leaders to accelerate progress in emissions reduction. Aotearoa New Zealand has a story to tell about financed emissions in particular, being first in the world to pass climate reporting legislation. At Generate Zero we have built financed emissions measurement directly into the Footprint platform so that organisations can deliver the scale of change necessary to meet climate change goals.
Claire Waghorn – Sustainability Transition Leader at Christchurch Airport
“Aviation is a hard-to-abate sector and we desperately need action accelerating its decarbonisation now. I’m attending COP28 because the business community needs to lean into greater responsibility for climate action, and the aviation sector needs to speed up its transition. Our people and planet depend upon it.”
Amelia Linzey – Group CEO of Beca
“COP28 presents a unique opportunity for Beca – as an Asia Pacific business proudly founded in Aotearoa – to support the New Zealand delegation and our shared commitment to achieving meaningful environmental and social outcomes for Asia Pacific. Many countries in our region, and globally, face existential threats from sea-level rise and forecast climate change-driven weather events, impacting our communities. Additionally, the conference’s key themes closely reflect areas where we believe our delivery focus and creative expertise can have the most positive impact, to support our clients and partners in decarbonisation, strengthening adaptation and resilience to climate change, and promoting good resource stewardship.”
Jo Kelly – Director at Toitū Tahua: Centre for Sustainable Finance
“International capital is crucial to Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to net zero by 2050. Alongside Australia, we will benefit enormously from the region being known as a credible destination for sustainable finance flows. COP28 will have a strong focus on the role of private capital in achieving the global transition. I’m looking forward to re-connecting with our international sustainable finance colleagues and supporting the New Zealand representatives in their discussions for how this international capital can be mobilised.” Stay tuned to get more updates from the SBC team and our members on the ground in Dubai over the coming weeks.
Stay tuned to get more updates from the SBC team and our members on the ground in Dubai over the coming weeks.
