NZIF welcomes NZ Government’s new climate strategy
Friday 19 Jul 2024
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) welcomes
the Government’s new climate strategy, released this week, and
looks forward to seeing more detail within the second emissions
reduction plan. This strategy aligns with NZIF’s commitment to
sustainable forestry and highlights the critical role all our forests
play in achieving New Zealand’s climate goals.
Key Pillars of the Strategy:
- Resilient Infrastructure and Prepared
Communities: The strategy emphasises building resilient
infrastructure and ensuring communities are well-prepared for climate
impacts. New native forests and professionally managed plantation
forests can contribute significantly to this by creating green buffers
and stabilising landscapes.
- Credible Markets for Climate
Transition: Pricing emissions fairly, letting the market
be a market and providing clarity is a positive step. Sustainable
forestry practices are crucial in providing NZU’s and other
ecosystem services, fostering a robust market and removing carbon from
our atmosphere.
- Abundant and Affordable Clean Energy: The
focus on clean energy must include promoting bioenergy from forest
residues, contributing to a diversified and sustainable energy mix.
NZ’s plantation forests are well-placed to provide the resource
required to produce bioenergy at scale.
- World-Leading Climate Innovation: The strategy
aims to boost the economy through climate innovation. NZIF supports
research and development, particularly in sustainable forestry practices
and innovative technologies, to enhance carbon sequestration.
- Nature-Based Solutions: Utilising nature-based
solutions to address climate change is at the heart of the strategy.
Forests are essential in this regard, offering carbon sequestration,
enhanced biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
The Government’s response is focused on transitioning New Zealand
to a low-emissions economy in a cost-effective way, using effective and
efficient policies while taking advantage of our unique landscape to
remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. NZIF believes this holistic
approach is crucial and our forests and forestry will be instrumental in
leveraging New Zealand’s unique natural advantages.
President of NZIF, James Treadwell, stated, “The
Government’s new climate strategy outline is a good
start. We are particularly encouraged by the emphasis on
nature-based solutions and sustainable markets. Forestry is poised to
play a pivotal role in these efforts, and NZIF is committed to
supporting and advancing these initiatives.”
NZIF looks forward to collaborating with the Government, industry
stakeholders, and communities to implement this strategy effectively. By
working together, New Zealand can lead the way in climate action and
sustainable forestry.
Source: NZIF
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