The New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association welcome the Paris Climate Agreement as a critical step forward in addressing climate change. This will help the push to develop policies and technologies that will ensure emissions reductions and sustainable clean development, including sustainable economic growth in the future, say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA).

NZMEA Chief Executive Dieter Adam says, “The signing of this Agreement may well reflect a real change in the attitude toward climate change by political and economic forces not seen before, and will affect important markets for New Zealand manufacturers. These attitude and behaviour adjustments will create an environment of change that can pose a threat, as well as provide vast opportunities for our manufacturers who can take a lead.” said Dieter.

“There are still questions about the real impacts and implementation of the Agreement that cannot yet be answered, particularly until it is ratified by individual countries. However, despite being a legal text, its real importance is political, economic and social – pushing needed behaviour and priority change.

“New Zealand manufactures and exporters are highly connected and involved in the global economy – much more than many realise. Manufacturers often operate business to business and provide components and solutions to companies in key OECD markets and beyond, in a range of industries – our manufacturers are highly exposed to global economic and technological trends. This Paris Agreement will set the tone for some long term trends, both in economic activity and technology – meaning our manufacturers will have to adapt in a number of ways, something that may well play in their favour. Many of our manufacturers already maintain and build their globally competitive position by being faster than others in delivering new technical solutions to their customers.

“New Zealand manufacturers could be helped by the Government taking a more aggressive approach towards reducing actual greenhouse gas emissions here at home, rather than relying on international carbon trading to meet obligations. Local stimulation of and support for development of new technologies in areas such as transport or power generation in, for example, marine renewable energy, would go a long way towards hitting our reduction targets and helping New Zealand manufacturers attain globally competitive positions in this kind of technology development.

“Promotion of research and development and innovation in businesses to develop clean technology, as well as supporting the development of more efficient manufacturing processes can help reduce our emissions and stimulate economic growth.” said Dieter.