Archived publication
This publication is no longer current or has been superseded.
Vote Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Output Class: Policy Advice and Implementation – Climate Change
This output class covers policy advice from the Ministry on climate change issues.
Performance measures
Outputs in this class were provided within the appropriated sum and within the timeframes as specified in the Estimates (unless otherwise stated). Performance measures were specified for each output as appropriate.
Drafting instructions were completed subject to timeframes set in the Government’s Legislative Programme.
All outputs were delivered to the Ministers’ specifications. Orders in Council and regulations were intra vires and in accordance with principal statutes.
Resources employed
Actual |
|
Actual |
Main estimates |
Supplementary estimates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Revenue: |
|
|
|
6,738 |
Crown |
8,085 |
8,271 |
8,271 |
53 |
Departmental |
60 |
55 |
55 |
6,791 |
Total revenue |
8,145 |
8,326 |
8,326 |
6,083 |
Total expenses |
8,035 |
8,326 |
8,326 |
708 |
Net surplus |
110 |
0 |
0 |
Review of output achievements
Develop cost-effective abatement measures that preserve the competitiveness of New Zealand business
Achieved. This programme was part of the business opportunities work managed by the climate change implementation team. It consisted of several areas of work:
-
overseeing the Energy Intensive Business scheme operated by EECA, where 19 projects associated with small to medium enterprises were granted funding in 2006/07, with a total 1,755 tonnes of CO2 reduced
-
working with large industrial firms on a voluntary basis to measure and benchmark emissions targets. This work was limited due to the overlaps with the climate change policy development
-
advising firms on offsetting their emissions and carbon neutrality.
Develop and implement policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from key sectors including agriculture, small and medium enterprises and energy-intensive businesses, local government and transport:
-
key stakeholders including agriculture, small and medium enterprises and local government are consulted on, and agree with, key elements of the Cabinet-approved work programme.
-
develop an agreed work programme, with the long-term goal of reducing New Zealand’s emissions
-
work programme for the next 3–5 years will be taken to, and agreed upon, by Cabinet by 30 September 2006.
Achieved. In July 2006 the Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues announced a work programme for reducing New Zealand greenhouse gas emissions.
Five discussion documents were prepared across government outlining options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Consultation on the five climate change discussion documents took place between December 2006 and March 2007. Over 150 meetings, hui, and workshops took place throughout the country with over 4,000 people attending. Over 3,000 written submissions were received.
On the basis of the consultation, the Government decided to progress design options for an economy-wide emission trading scheme, a ‘cap and trade’ system, covering all greenhouse gases.
Assisting local government to reduce emissions
Communities for Climate Protection (CCP) is a voluntary programme funded by the Ministry which aims to empower local councils to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their own operations and from their communities. A review of the programme was undertaken in 2006/07. This found that the programme has delivered on its objectives and that it has value in supporting councils to measure, plan and monitor emission reductions. The CCP-NZ contract has been extended to June 2008. The CCP-NZ programme currently has 27 member councils covering approximately 75 per cent of the New Zealand population.
Encouraging businesses to invest in projects that reduce emissions
Achieved. The Ministry monitored 41 Projects to Reduce Emissions Agreements. Three projects were opened in 2006/07 these included; Awapuni Landfill Gas Cogeneration Project (Palmerston North), Te Rere Hau Wind Farm (Palmerston North) and the Christchurch City Council Burwood Landfill Gas Project.
Develop materials and information to help key sectors prepare for the impacts of climate change
Achieved and ongoing. Cabinet papers on Helping New Zealand Prepare for and Adapt to Climate Change and Climate Change Policy: Communications and Engagement Plan were approved by Cabinet.
The Ministry engaged with stakeholders on the adaptation work programme and formed partnerships with the Institution of Professional Engineers, the insurance sector, Local Government New Zealand and the Lifelines Engineering Group.
The Ministry commissioned the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) to take the global climate change projections produced by climate models and produce detailed estimates of the likely impacts around New Zealand. Some of the Ministry’s climate change guidance material is being updated using this research, including: Coastal Hazards and Climate Change, Climate Change Impacts Assessment Manual, Planning for Climate Change – A Guide for Local Government and Climate Change Impacts on New Zealand. Other Ministry climate change information will be updated as this climate change projections research develops.
The Ministry published several climate change publications, including:
-
a series of three publications for the general public: Preparing for and adapting to climate change, Taking action on climate change, and Understanding climate change
-
a climate change impacts map for New Zealand
-
a webpage with targeted information on impacts and adaptation for the Engineering Lifelines sector.
Ensure New Zealand’s response to climate change takes account of the latest information on relevant science and technology
Achieved. The 2006/07 year has seen the release of the latest findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC). The IPCC has released three reports summarising research on climate change. These covered:
-
science
-
impacts and the need for adaptation
-
potential for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Ministry worked with the Royal Society, NIWA and the Resource Management Law Association to disseminate this information around New Zealand.
The Ministry has commissioned NIWA to produce detailed estimates of the likely impacts around New Zealand.
Implement a public awareness and education programme on climate change and keep all New Zealanders informed about climate change science
Achieved. A public awareness and education programme was approved by Cabinet in October 2006. It included a range of engagement mechanisms and communications activities to ensure that stakeholders, including the general public, could be informed about activities to reduce emissions and were able to contribute to developing and implementing climate change policy.
Represent New Zealand at multilateral and bilateral international forums
Achieved. Supported by direction from Cabinet, the Ministry participated in the second meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 2), in conjunction with the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP 12), in Nairobi from 6 to 17 November 2006. The Ministry worked within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process to help ensure that the outcomes of the Nairobi Climate Change Conference in November 2006 were aligned with New Zealand’s views.
The Ministry was involved in other formal United Nations meetings, such as the high-level preparatory meeting in Switzerland (14–15 September 2006), the Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies, 7–18 May 2007, in Bonn, and two UNFCCC workshops on deforestation avoidance.
As part of the Australia-New Zealand Climate Change Partnership, the Ministry held meetings in Wellington, visited the United States as part of the United States-New Zealand Climate Change Partnership, and delivered on initiatives under both formal partnerships.
On an informal level, the Ministry held bilateral meetings with Canada, United Kingdom, European Community, Ireland, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, amongst others. Ministry staff attended the OECD Annex 1 Experts Group meetings; Centre for Clean Air Policy Future Actions Dialogue meetings; Carbon Market Insights 2007, Denmark; and the International Emissions Trading Association (IEA/IETA/EPRI) 6th annual workshop on international emissions trading.
Coordinate the preparation of New Zealand’s annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Achieved. Several reports were prepared under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol and were submitted within the agreed timeframes. As New Zealand’s designated ‘single national entity’ for the greenhouse gas inventory, the Ministry continues to lead all-of-government teams to improve the inventory and projections of greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
Initial report under the Kyoto Protocol: New Zealand submitted its initial report on 1 September 2006 before the 1 January 2008 deadline. An international expert review reviewed the report and the associated greenhouse gas inventory from 19–24 February. New Zealand submitted revised estimates following in-country visits and answered additional queries from the expert review team.
Annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory: New Zealand submitted the 1990–2005 inventory report to the UNFCCC Secretariat on 4 May 2007. The inventory submission was within the agreed timeframe of six weeks after 15 April 2007. The delay was to allow time to implement improvements identified by the initial review under the Kyoto Protocol. In 2006/07 the Ministry also produced its first 16-page summary of key facts from the inventory for the public.
Net position report: an update of the projected balance of units under the Kyoto Protocol was prepared as of May 2007. The update included additional improvements identified by the 2005 review of the net position report. The 2007 update was delayed to include Fonterra’s announcement of a higher milk solids payout. The draft update was provided to the Minister in June 2007. The 2007 update is being reviewed by international experts, to be completed in September 2007.
Advise on the development of regulations under the Climate Change Response Act (2002)
Achieved. The Ministry worked with MED on the development of regulations to support the administration of the New Zealand Emission Unit Register.
