Transport features in September Climate Change and Business Conference

The 16th annual Climate Change and Business Conference at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland on September 9 and 10 falls at a critical time as New Zealand determines its next set of emissions reduction budgets and targets, say organisers.

The conference delivered in partnership between the Environmental Defence Society (EDS), the Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and the Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC), is expected to bring hundreds of delegates with this year’s programme including nearly 35 different sessions and more than 100 New Zealand-based and international speakers.

The programme includes a session on transport’s role In a “future-fit” economy which has Drive Electric chair Kirsten Corson, Auckland Transport representative Paul Winton, KiwiRail chief executive Peter Reidy, Air New Zealand’s Kiri Hannifin, and SBC climate and nature head Antonia Burbidge.

Australian climate scientist and writer Joëlle Gergis will deliver a keynote presentation on the global transition to net zero.

“The science is telling us we’re not moving fast enough, and the Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world when it comes to our changing climate,” she says.

“We know we have the tools and technology to get there.

“We need to keep looking at things like our use of fossil fuels, the scaling up of renewable energy, electrification of transport, and the rehabilitation of deforested land.”

Registrations for the 2024 Climate Change & Business Conference close on September 3.