The environment as an economic asset
Richard Gordon
This paper was presented at the Speaker’s Science Forum on 25 May 2010.
The Forum is an event for Members of Parliament, and is hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at Parliament, and is supported by Science New Zealand and the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Introduction
New Zealand has to make some strategic decisions about contentious land uses. A part of the difficulty in making these decisions is disagreement about thinking of the environment as a resource to be used for economic growth. This paper presents a different perspective that sees the environment as a strategic asset. It will explore the different ways in which businesses do well by factoring the environment into their product design and competitive positioning. The paper makes a connection between economic growth, the services provided by the environment, and the role of science and technology. It argues that New Zealand has a strong rationale for combining its 100% Pure brand with innovation as an engine of economic growth.
