2016 Climate Change & Business Conference
11-12 October 2016, Grand Millennium Hotel, Auckland
Read more about what went on at the 2016 conference via the two communiques below:
Conference Day One Communique
Conference Day Two Communique
Click the links below to view speaker powerpoint presentations and some videos.
TUESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2016: CONFERENCE DAY ONE
SESSION 1: A new global direction after Paris
COP 21 has set a new global mandate to accelerate the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions to ensure global average temperature increases do not exceed a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement has created a new paradigm that will require changed practices at the global, country and local levels. This session will explore the evolving rules framework arising from the Paris agreement and the likely implications for New Zealand.
Chair & Opening Comments: Mark Sinclair, New Zealand Climate Change Ambassador
Speakers
Paris COP21 & Morocco COP22: debrief & process 2016-2020 – H.E Mrs Florence Jeanblanc-Risler, Ambassador of France to New Zealand
Keynote Ministerial Address
New Zealand’s Direction – Hon Paula Bennett, Minister for Climate Change Issues
SESSION 2: International responses
Commentators will discuss how our key trading partners are responding to Paris: How are national targets being set? What are the different policy responses and economic tools being developed or implemented? What are the implications of these for national and international markets? Where are the new business opportunities likely to arise?
Chair: Peter Castellas, Chief Executive Officer, Carbon Market Institute Australia
Vignettes & Panel
United States of America – H E Mark Gilbert, USA Ambassador to New Zealand
Australia – Ilona Millar, Special Counsel, Baker & McKenzie, Australia
European Union – Caroline Lambert, Climate & Environment Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to Australia
China - Frank Jotzo, Associate Professor & Deputy Director, Crawford School of Public Policy; Director, Centre for Climate Economics & Policy
SESSION 3: The Emissions Trading Scheme – the keystone of New Zealand’s climate policy
A price on carbon is critical for leveraging private sector investment in the development of low carbon technologies and incentivising uptake by business. There has already been a significant outcome from the NZ ETS review – the removal of the one-for-two transition measure – but further changes are still under consideration, including important supply side decisions. What is the outlook for the NZ ETS policy agenda? What impact has the announcement of more stringent surrender settings had on driving business action to reduce emissions? What else is required for the NZ ETS to influence business decisions to facilitate low carbon investment? What role will the NZ ETS play vis-à-vis other policies in meeting New Zealand’s intended 2030 target? What are the scenarios for how the NZ ETS might operate in the future, and what would a good outcome from the NZ ETS review be?
Chair & Opening Comments
International momentum behind domestic market mechanisms – Emily Spears, Co-chair of IETA’s China Working Group, International Emissions Trading Association; Environmental Products Originator, BP
Speakers
Policy overview – Kay Harrison, Lead Negotiator International Carbon Markets, Ministry for the Environment
Panel
Dr Suzi Kerr, Senior Fellow, Motu
Nigel Brunel, Director Financial Markets, OMF
Dr Andy Reisinger, Deputy Director, New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre
Geoff Rousel, Managing Director, Global Head of Commodities, Westpac Institutional Bank
SESSION 4: Process and operational efficiency
Increasing carbon efficiency across sectors is an area where significant emissions reductions can be achieved. This session delves into what the Government’s transport and energy policy means for business. It profiles New Zealand & international case studies to explore innovative business system, transport, and energy options to reduce carbon emissions whilst increasing profitability.
Chair: Roger Lincoln, Director of Climate Change, Ministry for the Environment
Speakers
Policy – Hon Simon Bridges, Minister of Transport & Energy (pre-recorded video)
International case study
IKEA – Richard Wilson, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Australia
New Zealand case studies
Air New Zealand – Lisa Daniell, Acting Head of Sustainability, Air New Zealand
NZ Bus – Shane McMahon, Chief Operating Officer – Northern, NZ Bus
Fonterra – Tony Oosten, Energy Manager, Fonterra
Countdown – James Walker, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Countdown
SESSION 5: Challenges
Chair: Nigel Brunel, Director Financial Markets, OMF
Speakers
A business challenge for government – Alex Smith, WWF New Zealand
A challenge for governments – Bernard Savage Ambassador-Designate of the European Union to New Zealand
A challenge for business – Karen Silk, General Manager Commercial, Corporate & Institutional, Westpac New Zealand
WEDNESDAY 12 OCTOBER 2016: CONFERENCE DAY TWO
SESSION 6: Financing the transition
Major financial investment is required to fund both transitioning to a low carbon global economy and building resilience to unavoidable climate change impacts. What is the size and nature of the investment under different transition pathway scenarios? What tools are available to leverage finances to facilitate the transition? What is required to give investors’ confidence to direct finances towards sustainable business and new low-carbon technologies? Are there opportunities for innovative New Zealand businesses in helping the Pacific adapt to manage the effects of climate change?
Chair & Opening Comments: Ken Edge, Strategic Projects Partner, New Zealand Carbon Farming
Speakers
Investment under different transition pathways & the role of the banking community – Karen Silk, General Manager Commercial, Corporate & Institutional, Westpac New Zealand
Shifting investment: what investors want to know – Emma Herd, Chief Executive Officer, Investor Group on Climate Change
SESSION 7: Business strategy for a 2degree C future
Businesses will need to understand their climate risk in order to avoid stranded assets and to incentivise investment and consumer demand. This session examines how business strategy can be developed to align with a 2degree C future, the role of business level transition pathways to national and international emissions reductions, and how profits can be generated out of sustainable businesses.
Chair: Hon David Caygill, Chairman, Business New Zealand Energy Council
Speakers
The benefits of going carbon neutral – Dr Ann Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Enviro-Mark Solutions
How business can deliver a 2degree C future through setting science-based targets at a business level and implementing other corporate climate initiatives – James Day, Director Australia & New Zealand, CDP
Developing a business strategy to align with a 2degree C future – Tracey Ryan, New Zealand Climate Change and Sustainability Leader, EY
SESSION 8: Adapting to climate change
City and building design and development is critical to successful climate adaptation and mitigation. This session uses leading international case studies to look at how robust climate action plans have been developed & used to facilitate adaptation and city-centric carbon reductions by government, business and communities.
Chair: Alec Tang, Acting Chief Sustainability Officer; Principal Specialist Corporate Sustainability, Auckland Council
Speakers
Adaptation risk investment - Tim Grafton, Chief Executive, Insurance Council of New Zealand
Case Studies
Portland, United States – “Climate Action Plan 2015” – Angus Duncan, President, Bonneville Environmental Foundation; Chairman, Oregan Global Warming Commission
Vancouver, Canada – “Greenest City Action Plan” & “Climate Adaptation Strategy” – Gordon Price, City Councillor, Vancouver, Canada; Fellow with the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Center for Dialogue
SESSION 9: New Zealand’s transition pathway
The world needs to get to net zero emissions. New Zealand has been thinking about the best way to get there. So have other countries. What should New Zealand’s transition pathway look like? This session examines the development of transition pathway policy frameworks and the possible structure and content of such a framework for New Zealand.
Chair: Dr Janet Stephenson, Directory of the Centre for Sustainability, Otago University
Speakers
Transition pathways – the UK experience – Matthew Bell, Chief Executive, Committee on Climate Change, United Kingdom (pre-record)
Transition pathways – a critical analysis – Sir Jonathon Porritt, Director-Founder, Forum for the Future (pre-recorded video)
Panel
Dr Megan Woods, Spokesperson on Climate Change, Labour Party
James Shaw, Co-leader, Green Party
Professor David Frame, Director, Deep South National Science Challenge, IPCC author
Lawrence Yule, President, Local Government New Zealand
Rachel Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Business Network
Professor Barry Barton, School of Law, University of Waikato