Business View Oceania - Oct 2023

31 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 5, ISSUE 10 NEW ZEALAND GREEN BUI LDING COUNC I L Consumers are increasingly demanding green practices from the sector, and the market must shift in response. In New Zealand, there is growing pressure to consider the likes of energy use, embodied carbon, and circular economies, as we witness a collective realisation that sustainability is critical in business, property, and development. Here at the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) we work alongside the property and construction sectors to set standards for a sustainable built environment, ensuring we are taking care of future generations. The NZGBC is a for-purpose led industry body driving for all homes and buildings to be green and sustainable for healthier, happier New Zealanders. Over 700 members from a diverse range of organisations including government departments, banks, energy companies, and insurers, to property and construction companies, architects, developers, designers and tertiary education providers. A collective and government-level shift. “Having a pathway to decarbonise is increasingly being demanded by investors, employees, tenants and consumers. Those who don’t risk being left behind with stranded assets. We’re also increasingly seeing electrification as a pathway to accessing sustainable finance,” says Andrew Eagles NZGBC Chief Executive. This growing call for greener futures has influenced change at a government level, with recent changes announcement to New Zealand’s primary building legislation - the Building Act, aimed at lowering emissions and reducing waste. While already common among many OECD countries, New Zealand is finally considering mandatory energy performance ratings for buildings, as well as waste minimisation plans for construction and demolition projects. When making the announcement, the Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods said we know to expect more severe weather events