Why falling behind international peers in facing climate change will be expensive and catching up may become impossible
Dr Rod Carr
Wednesday, 28 October 2026 5:30pm
Nelson
Delays in adopting low-emissions technologies and business practices, alongside high-emissions lifestyles and livelihoods and the production of goods and services with significant environmental impacts, leave New Zealand businesses and households increasingly exposed to price shocks, supply disruptions and growing barriers to accessing high-value international markets.
A loss of reputation, a failure to honour commitments, and a lack of integrity in climate policy and action risk increasing costs for all New Zealanders engaged in international trade, travel and investment.
How can we regain our momentum and work together to build a low-emissions, climate-resilient, prosperous and inclusive Aotearoa?
Dr Rod Carr was the inaugural chair of the Climate Change Commission (2019-2024). Before that he was Vice Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (2009-2019). He has been Chairman of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the National Infrastructure Advisory Board. He is currently a director of ASB Bank and a trustee of the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust. Rod also mentors and invests in "clean tech" small businesses providing commercial solar to not-for-profit organizations and heat pump hot water systems to residential users.
He holds a PhD in insurance and risk management.
He is married to Jenny, whose family arrived in Nelson in the 1840s and set up the first flour mill. The Marshall family remain embedded in the Nelson community.
Delays in adopting low-emissions technologies and business practices, alongside high-emissions lifestyles and livelihoods and the production of goods and services with significant environmental impacts, leave New Zealand businesses and households increasingly exposed to price shocks, supply disruptions and growing barriers to accessing high-value international markets.
A loss of reputation, a failure to honour commitments, and a lack of integrity in climate policy and action risk increasing costs for all New Zealanders engaged in international trade, travel and investment.
How can we regain our momentum and work together to build a low-emissions, climate-resilient, prosperous and inclusive Aotearoa?
Dr Rod Carr was the inaugural chair of the Climate Change Commission (2019-2024). Before that he was Vice Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (2009-2019). He has been Chairman of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the National Infrastructure Advisory Board. He is currently a director of ASB Bank and a trustee of the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust. Rod also mentors and invests in "clean tech" small businesses providing commercial solar to not-for-profit organizations and heat pump hot water systems to residential users.
He holds a PhD in insurance and risk management.
He is married to Jenny, whose family arrived in Nelson in the 1840s and set up the first flour mill. The Marshall family remain embedded in the Nelson community.
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