Climate Change Minister discusses a green, greener, greenest New Zealand
Minister Shaw shared his in depth knowledge of climate change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and discussed how transparency about climate change and emissions reporting will lead to a better future at a well attended public lecture on 21 March 2018.
Minister for Climate Change, The Honourable James Shaw, said very firmly “There is simply no debate about climate change in the Pacific. The question is what do we do about it?”
His statement was part of a public lecture held at Victoria Business School (VBS) on 21 March where more than 250 guests had gathered to hear his presentation ‘Green, Greener, Greenest’, about building a sustainable future for New Zealand.
Addressing high-profile public and private sector leaders, academics and students, Mr Shaw discussed the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals with a particular focus on its Climate Action goal.
He spoke about the need for transparent reporting on climate change and emissions and establishing the architecture for the economic transformation, which is required over the next 30 years as New Zealand shifts towards a more sustainable future.
Following the lecture, guests were encouraged to write their thoughts and commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals on a temporary graffiti wall installed on the Business School’s mezzanine floor. Staff and students are encouraged to continue contributing their thoughts over the next few months.
The lecture was hosted by VBS’s Brian Picot Chair in Ethical Leadership in partnership with Transparency International New Zealand, and is an example of how the Business School is incorporating the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).
Since signing up to the PRME in 2014, the Business School has actively worked to incorporate the six principles into its management education, research and thought leadership.
This work is coordinated at the Business School by School of Management’s Dr Christian Schott.
At the lecture, Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford pointed to the establishment of the Brian Picot Chair in Ethical Leadership an appointment of its inaugural Chair, Professor Karin Lasthuizen, in 2016 as a further example of how the Principles are helping shape Victoria Business School’s academic composition.
Watch Minister Shaw's presentation here.