Chris Montgomerie talks about the Meridian sustainability policy and how different parts of the business are putting it into practice.

We accept the need to take action to understand and manage the implications of climate change for our business and for New Zealand. We are proactively working to manage the risks, and maximise the opportunities that climate change presents.

Climate change issues have seized the collective attention of governments, businesses and individuals around the world. This engagement creates opportunities for climate change to be a catalyst for fundamental changes with long-term benefits. For example, New Zealand's abundance of renewable energy sources could create significant economic advantages for the country.

Individuals and businesses are beginning to look at ways they can reduce the impacts of climate change. As a retailer, Meridian is actively looking for ways to do this. One such opportunity for Meridian is the certifying of our carbon neutral electricity. This gives our customers a real choice and provides a point of difference for Meridian in the retail market. The establishment of our new Right House energy efficiency business is another response to greater awareness of the impact of climate change.

Meridian continues to participate actively in the development of New Zealand's policy response to climate change. During the year we made submissions on a range of related issues, including the energy strategy, the mandatory biofuels target, the review of the building code and vehicle fuel economy labelling. Our approach is informed by monitoring the scientific information relating to climate change and engagement in the international carbon market.

Meridian's stance on climate change is a fundamental part of our wider approach to sustainability, the values and principles we operate by, and our desire to be a company that people are proud to work for.