Funding for In Person NZ Representation to Negotiate International Carbon Neutral Standard

 

Carbon-neutral certified product exporters face an impending challenge as countries worldwide implement carbon border taxes and bans on carbon-neutral claims. This poses a significant threat to exporters whose products need to be recognised as carbon-neutral under customer requirements. To avoid the coming bans and meet customer expectations, carbon-neutral claims need to be independently verified against recognised international standards. This highlights the urgent need for valid certification.

There is a dire need for New Zealand to have a say in the final negotiations on developing these standards. In addition, the country's representation at international standards meetings must safeguard its interests and ensure the recognition of fair and accurate certifications.

Unfortunately, this representation is currently at risk due to a lack of funding. The convener, Dr Ann Smith, who represents New Zealand in international standards negotiations encompassing greenhouse gas and carbon standards, product carbon footprint standards, green finance, and adaptation standards, currently undertakes this work for StandardsNZ (part of the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment) at her own cost. This includes the cost of attending international meetings in person, which is vital for impactful negotiation and decision-making.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed temporary remote participation, it comes with challenges. Effective negotiation in hybrid or online meetings, particularly when meeting times clash with New Zealand's time zone, is difficult because sessions are held through the night and may run consecutively for up to six days. Additionally, remote attendees can sometimes be overlooked or ignored, diminishing New Zealand's voice in these critical negotiations.

The stakes are high, with the final decision on the carbon-neutral standard looming. New Zealand's ability to contribute is critical, as it is a significant user of the ISO carbon standards. These standards form the basis of the carbon-neutral government programme and the Ministry for the Environment's guidance on voluntary footprint reports. Over 500 New Zealand companies have certified their carbon claims against these standards.

If New Zealand's convener cannot attend, the country will be left without representation in these vital discussions, and the convenor votes on behalf of New Zealand. This lack of representation could have a detrimental impact on the nation's economic future. Therefore, we urgently need to raise $$17,921.29 to enable our face-to-face participation.

The time to act is now, with Stats NZ data showing Food Exports in 2022 worth $86.7 billion. If the final carbon-neutral standard fails to address issues raised by New Zealand, it could place a significant financial burden on businesses, especially in the food export industry, potentially leading to the need to meet additional demands from regulators and customers. Secondly, it may negatively affect the industry's competitiveness as domestic exporters could face additional regulatory costs if voluntary claims are not recognised in those jurisdictions. Any greenwash accusations don’t just affect the exporter involved, they affect all New Zealand exports. This could result in reduced market share and economic growth. Additionally, consumers may experience higher prices for food products due to increased costs. The regulatory complexity of making a carbon-neutral claim in overseas markets will pose challenges for businesses. It is essential to consider these potential negative impacts carefully while devising strategies to address climate change and promote sustainability in the food export sector.

It is worth noting that Dr Ann Smith, the former CEO of Toitū Envirocare, represents New Zealand in these discussions under the umbrella of her role as an independent consultant. The work revolves around international standards used by New Zealand public and private organisations. The impact of not participating in negotiations in person could be substantial to New Zealand.

This situation underscores the need for funding, not only for carbon and greenhouse gas standards but also for all the standards that StandardsNZ participates in on the global stage. Our country's economic and environmental well-being relies on our ability to represent New Zealand’s interests in the negotiations on these international standards. Many other countries cover at least the travel costs for their convenors who negotiate the rules in these standards.

Please visit our Open Collective page [insert link] to show your support and contribute. Your participation will help ensure New Zealand's exporters have the representation they need to thrive in an increasingly carbon-constrained international market.

 For more information on this pressing issue, please contact [contact information].

Dr Ann Smith, the creator of the carbonzero programme and CEO of Toitū Envirocare until 2020. She is the current Convenor of the ISO/SC7 International Review Group. She is a prominent figure known for her dedication to accelerating sustainability and climate action as Professor Zero. With a PhD in marine biology and holding esteemed titles such as Chartered Environmental Manager (CEnv), Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (FIEMA), and Edmund Hillary Fellow (EHF), Dr Smith brings a wealth of expertise to her work. In addition, she has made significant contributions to the field, authoring and co-authoring over 200 publications, reports, and presentations when Professor of Business and Environmental Management at the University of Hertfordshire.

Matthew Jackson

09 390 4564

About Alimentary 

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