New leadership group focuses on green economy

Friday 8th July 2011

The Green Party see a new business leaders' group to promote environmentally friendly economic opportunities as an important ally.

Green co-leader Russel Norman said the Pure Advantage group, which included Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe and Warehouse-founder Sir Stephen Tindall, wanted to improve New Zealand’s environmental performance and take advantage of clean green opportunities.

The Pure Advantage group predicted the global green economy will grow to $US6.8 trillion ($NZ8.2 trillion) by 2015, Norman said.

Since 2006, New Zealand had slipped from first place on the Environmental Performance Index to 15th in 2010. The index ranked 163 countries on the environmental performance of their government’s policies.

Norman said New Zealand couldn’t afford to fall behind any further and the Government had not done enough.

Greenpeace also welcomed the formation of the group.

"Today's launch shows that our best entrepreneurs see the potential of the clean economy, and the dangers in not protecting this country's competitive edge -- its clean, green image," said climate change campaigner Nathan Argent.

"We will all do well if we act on what Pure Advantage is telling us."

Argent said other countries were getting ahead of New Zealand.

"The amount of investment overseas in clean energies and technology is astonishing," he said.

"South Korea alone will have spent US$85 billion on cleantech projects between 2009 and 2013."

NZPA

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