People often think climate action comes at the cost of economic growth, but that simply isn’t true. New Zealand has abundant opportunities, which means if we use the right levers, we can reduce emissions to meet our climate goals without shutting down businesses or lowering production. This is becoming vitally important as we continue to see extreme weather events damaging infrastructure and communities, disrupting supply chains and costing New Zealand billions.
The government is working with high-emitting sectors, including agriculture, transport, energy and waste, to find practical solutions to reduce emissions without hindering economic growth. By unlocking New Zealand’s abundance of potential from our innovators, natural resources and landscapes, climate action and economic growth can go hand in hand.
New Zealand and the North Shore are home to some of the world’s leading innovators in climate technology. The Government is backing our innovators, recognising that innovation drives economic growth and climate action.
Not long ago, many believed we had to choose between immediate costs and future benefits. However, we now understand that addressing climate change can enhance efficiency and foster new technologies to reduce emissions and lower risks. By removing the barriers stopping our innovators from growing, we can increase investment, create jobs, grow the economy and improve the livelihoods of New Zealanders.
Moving to energy, which makes up 40% of total emissions in New Zealand. It is the government’s work to double renewable energy. Known as Electrify New Zealand, the policy strengthens New Zealand’s position as a world leader in renewable energy, with over 90% of our energy coming from the sun, wind, water and geothermal.
Investing in and making it easier to build renewable infrastructure is a key part of electrifying New Zealand. The government recently announced that 22 additional renewable energy sources with a capacity of three gigawatts are being fast-tracked. This will increase New Zealand’s electricity generation capacity by almost 30%, creating more jobs, lower energy costs and fewer emissions.
Households can also play their part by electrifying their homes. By moving from gas heating to electric heat pumps, households can not only lower their electricity bills but also contribute to a more sustainable future.
By prioritising policies that benefit our climate and the economy, we can reduce emissions to meet our climate goals and grow the economy. Innovation and renewable energy are only two examples of government policy that show we can have a thriving economy and a healthy climate, giving New Zealanders more bang for their buck.
