Mr. Craig Presland, CEO, Cooperative Business New Zealand (CBNZ), has penned a compelling piece on the journey traversed by New Zealand towards contributing to sustainable consumption and production. He begins the article in Vanuatu where he attended the ICA-AP Forum on Development of Co-operatives in the Pacific Islands. He drew inspiration from an installation made by a local tribesman exhorting people to pay heed to the damage climate change is wrecking on island nations such as his.

The article moves on to facts about  how widespread climate change induced destruction is, and how every country, no matter big or small has a role to play. He highlights the positive steps taken by New Zealand in slowing the destruction through the ‘closing of new oil and gas explorations off the Taranaki coast recently, along with the new government’s pledge to plant more than one billion trees over the next 10 years.’  

Mr. Presland gives concrete recommendations for individuals and businesses on how they can do their bit for the cause of sustainable consumption and production. With respect to suggestions for co-operatives, he highlights how major co-operative players in his country, are already on the right path with respect to sustainability. They have committed to contributing to a waste management program, recycling cloth bags, cutting out plastic completely, and carrying out other socially conscious programs for the benefit of their communities.