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Agenda for change

The launch of EcoInnovator marks an important milestone in the life of Idealog—and perhaps even New Zealand. Two years ago it felt like global warming was someone else’s problem, but the centre ground has shifted. Sustainability is now top of every company and government agenda.

As a small country, New Zealand’s centre can shift quickly. Gary Taylor, an organiser of the fourth annual Climate Change and Business Conference held in mid-August, says the shift has been nothing short of astounding. “These conferences act as a benchmark of the thinking and ‘buzz’ about sustainability. From Brisbane [last year’s host] to Auckland you can witness the change, with the prospect of the Emissions Trading Scheme, initiatives such as TZ1 and carbonneutral schemes—and for us as event organisers, the support from mainstream business organisations such as Business New Zealand and major corporations. I think that New Zealand has now edged ahead of Australia in its acceptance and desire to act on climate change.”

What’s prompted the shift? We can all point to our own moments of truth. But perhaps the key contributors have been the fourth IPCC report, the Stern Report, Al Gore’s visit and the shocking sight of an iceberg off the coast of Dunedin.

Whatever the motivation, the reality of climate change demands a response. What’s yours?

EcoInnovator is determined to seize the upside. Our agenda is simple: uncovering the innovation, entrepreneurship and ‘blue sky thinking’ that will turn this threat into an opportunity. We hope the EcoInnovator website will become home to all New Zealand business interested in sustainability.

EcoInnovator is proud to be associated with the Climate Change and Business Conference and also with Clean Billions, the investor conference organised by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development. You can read about this event on page 72.

We also acknowledge the support of our Gold Sponsors, BMW and McConnell Property, and our silver sponsors (shown at right).

Vincent Heeringa
Publisher

Tweeted

Overheard

• Mark on Bigger, faster, more productive:
  Fantastic! Finally some vision in establishing a key infrastructure to support New Zealand's future prosperity and commercial competitiveness. Good work Rod, Sam and Steve - your country thanks you for your patriotism!  …
• Margaret Holmes on NZ Institute thumbs down Key's agenda:
  Unfortunately it is not just red tape - it is also the laid back kiwi attitude, compounded by educators who think achieving national standards is a bad thing.
• Tim Marshall on Smile, you’re in New Zealistan:
  The target of higher GDP per capita is all wrong. Aiming for it encourages more production and consumption, often at the expense of quality of life. We need to construct a Genuine Progress Index (GPI) to guide policy. Fr  …
• Peter McL on New note:
  "You got caught up in events at EMI.." and yet shes STILL with EMI - their local branch is distributing her new album. Wonder why?
  
  I blogged some more of Hollies comments on the details behind the fallout  …
• Phil Wollerman on Smile, you’re in New Zealistan:
  Brilliant, insightful article, VH.
  
  This situation has principally arisen because - simplistically - the world no longer wants what we are intrinsically advantaged in supplying.
  
  And yeah, it doesn't look like our co  …
• Anon on Smile, you’re in New Zealistan:
  The answer lies in a) increasing the returns to capital and b) decreasing the cost of capital. To do a) we need to reduce corporate and income taxes and replace them with land, resource, pollution and infrastructure char  …

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