Kia ora koutou. Yesterday we submitted our joint SBC and CLC response to the Emissions Reduction Plan discussion document. The document and press statement can be found on our website.
I would like to thank you all for your engagement and contributions throughout this consultation process, especially at what continues to be an extremely busy and uncertain time against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID challenge. We are very happy with the way the response has come together. If our recommendations are implemented, this has the potential to have a significant impact on the Emissions Reduction Plan and the pathway that sets up New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions future.
But the hard work doesn’t stop there. There is still a huge amount to be done between now and when a final first ERP is completed in May next year. While the recommendations in our joint response go some way to bridge the emissions gap in the current discussion document, a gap still remains and genuine collaboration between business and government will be critical to closing it. This is a point we have emphasized to government and will continue to do so in our ongoing advocacy work. We remain confident that if government and business are prepared to reinvent our engagement model, together we can meet the enormous challenge ahead.
And with partnerships and collaboration front of mind, I would encourage you all to register for the final webinar for the year in our Taking the Lead series which is happening on Wednesday 1 December. We will be joined by Professor Jan Peter Balkenende, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, and Chair of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition to explore what Aotearoa can learn from the Netherlands about developing successful partnerships between the private sector, civil society and government.
Thank you to the Netherlands Embassy for their support with this webinar, the insights will be incredibly valuable to us all. You can find all the details you need to register in this week’s Panui, as well as our weekly Events email.
For now, as we all move to navigate the next phase of New Zealand’s Covid response, do take care. I hope you are looking forward to a run up to Christmas that includes the opportunity to celebrate the enormous contributions and achievements you have all made over the last year. Look forward to speaking with you soon, bye now.
