Submission on the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill

16 July 2019

The Zero Carbon Bill aims to provide a means for New Zealand to develop clear, stable climate change policies in accord with the Paris Agreement.

The Commissioner supports the statutory basis for long-term targets and institutions the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill seeks to establish.

This submission details the changes to the Bill sought by the Commissioner.

Key points

• Achieving cross-party support for the Bill is very desirable.
• The best way of securing cross-party support for the 2050 target is to confirm it only after the Climate Change Commission has had an opportunity to review it, applying a robust and transparent framework.
• Careful consideration should be given to the extent of forest offsetting for fossil carbon dioxide emissions.