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Businesses concerned over New Zealand's lack of leadership on environment: study

Xinhua, July 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

New Zealand businesses want the government to show leadership on environmental issues that are jeopardizing the country's "clean and green" brand, according to a study out Tuesday.

Carbon, waste and the use and quality of water were the leading sustainability concerns, according to the report on a Waikato University survey of 520 businesses.

"Due to a lack of government action and the decreasing global price of carbon, some businesses have stopped measuring and managing their carbon footprint, while others put their carbon strategies on hold," said the report.

"A majority of interviewees wanted the government to step in to level the playing field and provide regulatory predictability. This may be a useful message for the New Zealand government as it prepares for the Paris climate change talks in December."

Co-author Associate Professor Eva Collins said the survey showed a general consensus that New Zealand's "clean and green" brand was of critical importance to exports, and this could be jeopardized if environmental problems were not addressed.

However, many businesses were reluctant to invest more in sustainability initiatives until the government stepped in to provide long-term regulatory certainty and leveled the playing field, she said in a statement. Endit