Letter of Support: Zero Carbon Bill Discussion Document

The Path to Transition

The Chamber wholly agrees that climate change is an important global issue that we need to address, while we still can. The Chamber also agrees with the Minister that the lack of clarity over New Zealand’s position on climate change is holding back investment and creates an air of uncertainty.

However, the Chamber questions whether the current intent of the Zero Carbon Bill will actually create a clear pathway to achieve the country’s carbon zero goals, given the framing of the discussion document. Like BusinessNZ and ExportNZ, the Chamber is concerned that there is not a clear path of transition articulated to effect the change needed from our current economy to a carbon zero economy.

Businesses, like informed individuals, rarely act without a clear understanding of costs, risks, and benefits. If there are significant uncertainties in the market, it is difficult for these businesses to justify major investments. While business does understand that one-hundred percent certainty is not realistic even under the best of circumstances, market predictability is a reasonable expectation...

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