Wellington leads in climate innovation and environment restoration. According to the 2021 Economist’s Safe Cities Index, Wellington is number one for environmental security.
Research and innovation
You’ll find the world-leading Antarctic and climate change researchers at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). Home to the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute, it is the country’s top academic institution for this research. The institute undertakes in-depth climate change research including inequality, extreme events, and policy.
Several Crown research institutes also call Wellington home, including:
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). It researches the atmosphere and oceans, providing environmental science and meteorological services
- Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS). It focuses on geology, geophysics, and nuclear science
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR). It looks at environmental science and research for New Zealand’s ecological wellbeing.
Wellington is very much a creative and innovative city. Over the years, many zero carbon challenges, clima-thons, and hackathons have been run in the city. Out of those has come businesses such as Switched on Bikes, an e-bike rental company, and Mevo, an electric car-sharing company.
“In person conferences are the most valuable way to share information. You can come to our city and learn about our initiatives and take it back to yours.”
A connected industry
Wellington leads the way in environmental restoration. You can visit the world-first urban eco-sanctuary, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne. Because of its success, Wellington is one of the only cities where native biodiversity is increasing. For example, the kākā, New Zealand's native parrot, was extinct in the Wellington region. But they have started breeding at Zealandia and have now taken up residence across the city. VUW’s Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology also contributes to these efforts.
Companies taking a climate innovation approach include Humble Bee Bio. It discovered a bee nesting material that has properties like plastic. By recreating it in the lab it is developing a biodegradable alternative to plastics.
Meanwhile, Hot Lime Labs uses world-leading technology to extract clean, sustainable CO2 from waste wood. This is for use in commercial greenhouses.
Open Star is in a race to develop the first nuclear fusion reactor as an alternative to fossil fuels. Its mission is to deliver clean, abundant, and available fusion energy to the world.
How we can help
Business Events Wellington’s networks can connect you to researchers and experts in these fields. The team can also support an international conference bid. Wellington is a super-connected, collaborative city, making it easy to tap into local experts.
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