In Aotearoa New Zealand (and around the world), extreme weather is no longer a future risk. It’s a present-day reality, and we are already seeing the impacts on the safety of our people, our landscapes, and the systems that businesses rely on to operate. 

The urgency is real, but so is the opportunity. 

Staff, customers, suppliers, and communities are being directly affected. And while it can feel overwhelming, businesses don’t need to have all the answers to begin. What matters most right now is choosing to be part of the solution. 

Climate impacts will continue to intensify for decades to come. For businesses, this means increased operational and financial risk, but it also opens the door to new opportunities. 

Organisations that start building climate knowledge and capability now are better placed to: 

• Understand and manage risks: Climate change creates real risks for businesses, from flooding to transport disruption and power outages. Understanding where you’re exposed helps you plan, rather than react in a crisis. 

• Reduce long-term costs: Many climate actions also save money. Improving fuel efficiency, improving onsite drainage, generating solar power, or reducing waste can lower operating costs and help avoid future expenses like volatile energy prices, rising insurance premiums or emergency repairs.  

• Strengthen trust with customers, staff, investors, and communities: People want to see businesses taking climate action. Visible, genuine efforts build trust, increase staff pride, strengthen customer loyalty, and give investors’ confidence that the business is planning for the long term. 

• Identify efficiency wins and new solutions: Reviewing your environmental impact often highlights simple ways to work smarter, such as improving information from suppliers or upgrading systems. 

This isn’t about perfection; it’s about acknowledging the problem, improving your knowledge and capability, then stepping up to do what is required of running a business in the 21^st Century.  We totally understand, this is easier said than done. We know many businesses are stretched, navigating cost pressures and uncertainty – but that’s exactly why leadership matters now, so these impacts don’t become harder, more expensive, and even more disruptive over time. 

One of the biggest barriers we see is organisations feeling stuck at the starting line, unsure where to begin, or worried about getting it wrong. So, how do you start? 

1. Build internal knowledge and confidence.

You’re not going to become a climate expert overnight, and you don’t need to. Start by building foundational knowledge: what climate change is, how it shows up in your sector, and what it could mean for your operations and people. 

There are many tools and resources to help you, although we understand that sometimes the sheer volume of these can be overwhelming. Remember, the first goal is confidence, not complexity.  

Some resources we recommend are: 

• About Climate Change – Go Well Consulting 

• Intro to climate from the Climate Reality Project 

• Climate Change NASA 

• YouTube channels such as CrashCourse’s Climate & Energy Playlist 

• Free courses on portals such as UNCC:e-Learn  

Invest in a sustainability or climate professional facilitating a discussion, workshop, or series of presentations to advance your knowledge and confidence. Move past the internal debates that are holding the organisation back from people who have limited or incorrect information.  Understand the big picture and where your business fits in. 

2. Get the conversation started.

Talking about climate change openly within your organisation and creating a culture where others also feel comfortable talking about it, asking “silly questions” (there are no silly questions), and positively debating the nuances.  

Climate action works best when it’s social, not siloed. Engage your leadership team. Bring staff into the conversation, you’ll often find they are passionate about being a part of the solution.  

Communicate what you know and what you’re still figuring out. Suppliers can also play a key role. Many are already experts in their field and can help identify lower-impact options or efficiency improvements. 

Check out guides such as Let’s Talk Climate and Talk like a Human. 

3. Understand your footprint, even at a high level.  

Understanding your organisation’s emissions footprint helps turn something abstract into something tangible. For example: 

• This month’s power bill = this many emissions 

Once you have a number, you can track it over time and see whether actions are making a difference. Even a high-level footprint can highlight your biggest sources of emissions and show where change will have the greatest impact. 

You can and will build accuracy and capability over time; starting simple is still starting. 

There are people, platforms, and tools that can help, including: 

• Go Well Consulting – We can help you map your base year, while building your internal skills and processes so you can confidently continue year on year. 

• Climate Action Toolbox – A free, practical resource to help organisations take their first steps on climate action. 

• Carbon accounting software and free calculators, such as GreenHalō. 

Communicating externally about what you’re doing and what you’re still working towards helps build trust. Be open about your learnings, progress, and challenges along the way. This kind of transparency can even support other businesses on their own journeys. When communication is honest, it shows genuine intent and reduces the risk of greenwashing. 

4. Solar: a solution that’s already here 

Solar is one of the clearest examples of how climate solutions are no longer futuristic, they’re available now. 

It’s often a high-impact action and, in many cases, one of the cheapest forms of electricity available. While upfront capital can be a barrier, there are more financing and ownership models than ever before. Read EECA’s information for businesses considering investing in solar energy.  

When Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in 2025, widespread grid outages left many communities without power. But where solar and battery systems were already installed, critical services were able to stay operational. Read more here. 

5. You don’t have to do this alone 

There are already so many tools, solutions, and support options available, many of them free or low-cost. What matters most is taking that first step. 

At Go Well, we work with organisations at all stages of the journey. From “we’re not sure where to start” to detailed footprints, reduction planning, and stakeholder-ready communication. We also believe strongly in empowering businesses with knowledge, not gatekeeping it. If you’re ready to take that first step – or want help making sense of where to focus – get in touch. 

Written by Alix McKenzie, Emissions Consultant at Go Well Consulting.

AI Disclaimer: AI was used to help draft this blog. All content has been reviewed an edited by our team.