September Circle Update

Biotechnology

The Aotearoa Circle has been investigating the risks and opportunities potentially associated with regulatory change around the use of modern genetic technology in New Zealand. Our first report on this topic, authored by PwC, was published in late May. This work looked at what Aotearoa could do in this area, rather than attempting to say what we should do. 

We have just published a follow-up report, drawing on the expertise of dozens of experts across New Zealand’s food and fibre sectors and others with a stake in the modern genetic technology discussion. This Phase Two report is an actions pathway that can help enable informed conversations about best possible decision making for those involved in regulatory change.

All participants wanted to see a programme of excellent communication, education and engagement to enable informed conversation in Aotearoa New Zealand about what modern genetic technologies are and what the risks and benefits might be as we tackle climate change impacts and the degradation of our natural capital. Consultation with Māori was seen as particularly important. The need for strong environmental considerations was also seen as essential, because there is an element of “no turning back” once change is adopted.

The Phase Two report can be found here.

Green and Black – Which Comes First?  A Seafood Sector Story.

Helping the seafood sector to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change has been an important, multi-year workstream for The Aotearoa Circle. A marine focus has run through much of our work over the last five years, including the specific workstreams Marine Scenarios Report (producing climate-related risk scenarios for aquaculture and fisheries) and a Seafood Sector Adaptation Strategy

We are currently engaged in phase three of this work – adaptation pathways. This work will produce a toolkit, a how to guide, for all members of the seafood sector. This toolkit will guide seafood producers in how to manage the impacts of and lessen their impacts on climate change. 

To spread the word about this work, our Director of Implementation, Mark Fitzpatrick, recently spoke at the Seafood New Zealand Conference in Auckland to 250 leaders in the sector. 

His key message was that we cannot afford to take our focus off sustainability, even in the tougher economic times New Zealand is currently experiencing.  He urged sector leaders to reject the idea that “we have to be in the black to be green.”  The new reality is a world where we must be “green” to be in the black, because we can’t have long term growth that isn’t done within the boundaries of what is sustainable.

The Conference also heard from Chapman Tripp partner Alana Lampitt, one of the authors of The Circle’s report Protecting Our Competitive Advantage, which demonstrated the need to meet growing global expectations for sustainability standards. Yet another reason to go green, to ensure long term prosperity.

Natural Capital Regional Resilience – What’s New

The Circle is working with PwC and local leaders in the Bay of Plenty to help the region understand its critical vulnerabilities to climate change and nature degradation. This workstream is called Natural Capital Regional Resilience or NCR2.  It is one of our major workstreams for 2024. What we learn will be able to be applied to other regions in Aotearoa. 

Some regions, including Bay of Plenty, have previously done some work in this area, but not like this, for the following four reasons:

  1. Nature is at the core. NCR2 is considering information on climate and nature risks to help the region understand its dependencies on nature that could be compromised as a result of climate change. 

  2. We are seeking to quantify potential climate change impacts on economic, social and cultural activities and infrastructure in the region, something that is difficult and has not been done before at this scale. 

  3. We are looking at the impacts at a 'whole of Bay of Plenty" system level, to understand the resilience of the system, and where vulnerabilities lie in the face of climate change.

  4. We are seeking to identify 'critical thresholds' where activities may no longer be viable due to climate impacts on nature.  We will identify with stakeholders the potential mitigation or adaptation options available. 

PwC, our Circle team and a range of local experts and champions are working hard on this first-of-its-kind report.  It is a long and detailed process but we expect to deliver the completed work by the end of the year.

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Adapting to a Changing Climate: Gareth Edgecombe on the Future of New Zealand’s Horticulture.

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Bridging Finance and Community: Caleb Poe on Sustainability, Representation, and Action