Lyttelton Port Company will be reporting on its impact and dependencies on nature to identify critical risks related to nature loss, which were highlighted in a forum on dependencies on nature.

LPC’s Environmental and Sustainability Business Partner, Kirsty Brennan, was invited to be on the panel with The Responsible Investment Association Australasia in Auckland to share LPC’s perspectives and progress.

The forum also featured the insights of various organisations, including Fonterra, Chapman Tripp, PwC, and TNFD, on applying the global framework for nature accounting.

Kirsty said all businesses rely on nature to provide services and functions that bring in revenue and allow us to operate.

“There is growing awareness among businesses globally of their exposure to nature loss, with 70% of New Zealand’s economy being based on nature,” Kirsty said.

LPC staff worked through identifying the specific dependencies LPC has on nature. Each of these dependencies relates to specific financial value.

The Environment and Sustainability Team at LPC are working through key risks and opportunities related to nature.

Some examples for LPC include the reliance on the availability of materials such as the reliance on the availability of raw materials for use such as rubber, cement, and timber, the ability of the harbour to dilute stormwater pollution, flushing out contaminants, having vegetation on the land to stabilise soil and prevent sedimentation and erosion in the harbour, and maintaining access to a harbour for recreation so we continue to have good community relationships and are able to maintain consents to operate.