CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change amelioration is a new area of focus for NZPPI.

Like other sectors, plant producers will need to adapt to changing transport systems, technology, infrastructure, and reporting requirements. We are in the early stages of understanding what changes will be needed and what our options are as a small scale, somewhat specialised industry where new innovation is often limited and expensive. 

We need to ensure that plant producers are on the radar and not forgotten among the scramble for other larger impacted sectors, like manufacturing and farming to gain the attention and funding from Government. 

Afforestation

There are proposals for some fundamental changes in policy that will drive plantings of indigenous and exotic forests. We are currently working with Te Ūru Rakau NZ Forest Service on these proposals and are looking on how we can support our native nursery members to scale-up if required. 

Energy use

We are actively working with the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) to support our members in reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy sources, particularly for greenhouse heating.

As part of this effort, we conducted a survey to establish a baseline understanding of energy use, water storage, and recycling practices among our members.

This data has been instrumental in helping us identify key areas where energy efficiency can be improved. Our collaboration with EECA ensures that members are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to implement sustainable energy solutions, contributing to the long-term decarbonisation of the sector.