Working Together is The Only Way We Win

Dan Huggins, CEO, BNZ

We have now been living with a COVID for nearly two years. And while it has placed immediate pressure on our wellbeing, we must not forget climate change, which remains one of the most significant challenges that we must collectively need to address. The world must coordinate to reduce emissions and we all must play our part.

That change is already happening. New Zealand’s government has clearly signalled its intention to encourage cleaner practices through regulation and compliance. Businesses and markets are already heading this way. In the business sector particularly, mindsets have shifted - sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’, but a significant imperative to the long-term viability and success of a business.

This embedding of sustainability in how businesses think, invest and plan goes right to the heart of our actions to drive a rapid, and just, transition to a low emissions economy. An economy that supports people and regenerates the planet.

At the BNZ we have refined our environmental policy and further embedded Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into our lending decisions. An example of that is our decision to lock in an end date for emissions-intensive sectors and companies, such as thermal coal, from our lending and investment portfolios.

But what will really make the difference is our work as a partner. We believe supporting customers with transition plans and partnering with New Zealand’s small and medium enterprises to improve efficiency, lessen their environmental impacts and support increased care for their people and communities will have the greatest affect.

Our commitment to partnership particularly applies to our farming customers. New Zealand has some of the best farmers on the planet. Many are making rapid progress in cutting emissions and greening their operations. In the last 12 months we have developed sustainability-linked loans to incentivise environmental and biodiversity improvements on farm, and our intention is to offer more sustainability incentives to the market in the coming year.

We have also developed the Climate Action Toolbox an online tool to support New Zealand’s Small and Medium Enterprises to take action. So far 6,000 businesses have used the tool to assess the intensity of their operations and identify where they can make changes – everyone has a part to play.

Tackling climate change requires a multi-pronged approach and just as we are rightly focused on Kaitiakitanga - accelerating the just transition to a low emissions economy that supports the regeneration of the natural environment – we are also prioritising broader efforts to support the growth of a sustainable and more inclusive economy, and the social, cultural and environmental benefits it can deliver for New Zealand (Manaakitanga).

Our activities to support community growth and wellbeing complement our efforts to reduce emissions. For example, we know that significant benefits, such as reduced energy use and improved health outcomes, flow from secure, affordable, quality housing and we are working with a range of partners to advance these objectives. Our work includes supporting the development of a prefabrication industry, progressive home ownership solutions, home repair financing and making funding available for the development of Māori land.

We also see a vibrant Māori economy as critical to creating a New Zealand economy that values the environment and embeds the protection and enhancement of native flora and fauna into its business practices. We are committed to earning the right to support Māori businesses and communities to undertake this important work and to increase the social and economic impact of their activities.

Addressing these issues will not only support a just transition to a lower emissions economy but help deliver improved social and economic outcomes for New Zealand’s communities. The challenges we are seeking to address require urgency and I believe by working in partnership we can create a fairer, cleaner and more prosperous Aotearoa.