We must quickly move to a broader, more constructive and urgent conversation about how we will all adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Our climate is changing in profound ways, creating both risks and potential rewards for businesses. How businesses adapt to the impacts that climate change is bringing will spell their success or failure.
To highlight the urgent need for action and how to the first steps, IAG hosted an event that bought together 80 representatives of New Zealand business for a workshop on climate change adaptation.
The event started with IAG climate change spokesperson, Bryce Davies providing some context about the scale of the issue. He spoke about the impacts of our changing climate being unfamiliar, complex, and dynamic, and that they go well beyond the physical into social, cultural, and economic. He said that these impacts are already happening and are going to get much worse.
Next, the Minister for Climate Change, Hon. James Shaw, spoke of the effects of climate change not as a future state, but as something clearly affecting us now. He spoke of the national approach to adaptation and what it means for business. Commending the Climate Leaders Coalition, he articulated the importance of this group of business leaders.
A panel made up of Kate Beddoe from Vector, Karen Silk from Westpac and Hamish Reid from Synlait, offered practical solutions and shared how they’ve lifted their climate change adaptation action within their organisations.
Rounding off the evening, Craig Olsen, CEO of IAG New Zealand reminded the audience that an urgent and considered response is needed and that it is time to act.
