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News and speeches

This page lists all Ministry for the Environment climate change news for the past six months.

ETS agreement enables progress on climate change
The Government has secured the support of the Māori Party to enable New Zealand to implement an affordable and workable emissions trading scheme next year, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith says. [23 November 2009]

Changes to ETS needed to reduce costs
Parliament needs to pass amendments to the existing Emissions Trading Scheme prior to Christmas to make it workable and affordable, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith says. [16 November 2009]

Govt welcomes report on ETS costs
A report on the amended Emissions Trading Scheme released today by the Sustainability Council shows the changes will more than half the costs for Kiwi households and businesses, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith says. [12 November 2009]

First reading, Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill
Mr Speaker, I move that the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill now be read a first time. [24 September 2009]

NZ pushes for Global Alliance on agricultural emissions
Prime Minister John Key says the New Zealand Government is pushing for a Global Alliance to research how to cut world-wide greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. [23 September 2009]

Groser to New York for climate change meetings
Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser leaves for New York today to attend a series of climate change meetings. [17 September 2009]

Revised ETS balances NZ’s environment and economy
The Government, with Maori Party support, will revise the Emissions Trading Scheme to reduce the costs to households and the impact on jobs while ensuring New Zealand takes a responsible approach to the global problem of greenhouse gas pollution and climate change. [14 September 2009]

Govt welcomes ETS Review Committee report
Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith today welcomed the report of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee. [31 August 2009]

Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference
Can I open by commending the organisers of this conference for your initiative in helping bring New Zealand and Australian thinking together on climate change and recognising the huge role for business in tackling this challenging issue. [25 August 2009]

Cabinet paper regarding the setting of New Zealand’s 2020 emissions reduction target released
The Minister of Climate Change Issues has released the cabinet paper, Climate Change: New Zealand’s 2020 Emissions Reduction Target [18 August 2009]

Labour wrong on 2020 costs
Labour's claims that the Government has exaggerated by tenfold the costs of a 10% to 20% emissions reduction target announced yesterday raises serious questions about the economic literacy of the Opposition. [11 August 2009]

2020 target balances economy and environment
Climate Change Ministers Nick Smith and Tim Groser today announced an emissions reduction target range of 10% to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. [10 August 2009]

New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target announced
The New Zealand Government is working actively to secure an effective global agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the United Nations climate change negotiations, the Prime Minister John Key has announced New Zealand’s official 2020 emissions target policy. [10 August 2009]

Bold 2020 target comes with high price
Achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2020 would cost $17.5 billion, put power prices up by 30% and require the equivalent of seven Clyde Dams being built, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says. [4 August 2009]

LUCAS (Land Use Carbon Analysis System) Stakeholder Progress Report
The Ministry has released a report about the first data delivered from the LUCAS programme. Since 2005, the LUCAS programme has been gathering data on the amount of carbon stored in New Zealand’s forests. The Programme was established to enable New Zealand to meet its reporting and accounting obligations under Article 3.3 of the Kyoto Protocol. This report provides an updated estimate of the Kyoto eligible forest through the first commitment period. [26 July 2009]

New reports help inform climate change policy
New reports released today on the economic and forestry aspects of climate change policy will help inform Government decisions on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target and policy on emissions trading, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says. [26 July 2009]

Groser to attend APEC Trade Minister’s Meeting
Trade Minister and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, departs today to attend the annual APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting in Singapore. [19 July 2009]

Govt consults public on 2020 emissions target
The Government today began a process of public consultation on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target with a public meeting in Wellington tonight. [6 July 2009]

New Zealand's 2020 Emissions Target
The New Zealand Government is working actively to secure an effective global agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. In August, as part of the United Nations climate change negotiations, the Government will state its policy on a 2020 emissions target policy and is inviting public input. [3 July 2009]

Public consultation for 2020 target announced
The Government today announced it would be holding public meetings, meetings with business groups, and hui on New Zealand's 2020 greenhouse gas emissions target next month. [26 June 2009]

Last updated: 20 March 2008