In this new series taking a deeper dive into getting to know the CEOs making up the Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) and driving climate leadership from the top, we share some reflections from CLC Steering Group Member and Spark New Zealand CEO Jolie Hodson.
What is the most important role business leaders can play in accelerating climate action in Aotearoa New Zealand?
We should never underestimate the power of business leaders committing publicly to climate action. A clear, collective voice influences public policy, encourages bipartisanship, helps transform supply chains, and sparks cross sector collaboration. Another important role for business leaders is to drive the economic transformation. That means integrating climate change into our business strategies and tacking the risks and opportunities as part of our core business, not a bolt on.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity for Aotearoa New Zealand businesses as the global economy transitions to low emissions?
Aotearoa’s abundant natural environment and reputation for being ‘clean and green’ is a strong foundation to build from. We can attract investment into New Zealand – Aotearoa’s appeal for data centre businesses is a great example – and we can export high-value, low-emissions goods and services, such as clean-tech, premium and sustainable foods. And as a relatively small, but advanced, economy, we have the opportunity to innovate and test new solutions that can be scaled up to address global challenges.
