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The approach we will use to achieve the outcomes
We have three key approaches that will help to achieve environmental sustainability and the outcomes we are seeking. These are integration, leadership, and knowledge and understanding.
Integration
Sustainable development challenges countries to think broadly across economic, environmental, social and cultural objectives and to act as a coherent whole. It requires an integrated approach to policy and decision making.
Environmental policy affects everyone in New Zealand in some way. There can be tension between those who seek access to natural resources for infrastructure development, irrigation and other human uses and those who want protect biodiversity and natural landscapes. There are also tensions between people's desire for a secure supply of electricity and other community facilities and their unwillingness to have public facilities such as wind farms or landfills near their homes. It is the Ministry's role to develop and maintain the frameworks through which such issues can be resolved.
Integration involves:
- linking environmental sustainability with economic development and with social and cultural well-being
- understanding the many different perspectives about the environment and its management across New Zealand society and sharing these across sectors through forums such as the annual Talk Environment meetings
- linking central government policies with local government management of natural resources and sustainable business practices
- linking central government policies across the sustainability spectrum
- working across the natural and built environment, rural and urban activities, and local, national and international interests
- bringing international experience and expertise to bear on environmental issues of importance to New Zealand.
Leadership
Environmental sustainability is influenced by policy development in a range of government agencies, by the environmental management of local government, business practices, and the actions of every individual. Clear national direction and high public awareness of the environment are necessary for environmental sustainability and sustainable development.
Leadership involves:
- establishing, and motivating action on, national priorities
- developing a whole of government approach on major national issues
- providing national direction through laws, regulation, policy statements, national environmental standards, and guidance
- working in partnership with local government, iwi, business, research institutions and the community on creative and practical initiatives
- supporting others to make a contribution by providing information and funding
- reporting nationally on the state of our environment and environmental action across government
Knowledge and understanding
Management of New Zealand's natural and physical resources relies on good information - we cannot effectively manage what we do not understand. We need to support decision-making by providing credible and timely environmental information. Good environmental information also helps us to understand if government policies and business and community actions are having the desired results.
We have developed or supported the development of a variety of tools that make data gathering and analysis easier. These include the land cover database, and the land, river and marine environment classifications.
Our approach to knowledge and understanding involves:
- measuring and reporting on the health of the biological and physical environment using accurate, scientifically robust information presented in an objective manner
- working in partnership with other agencies to locate, use and share environmental information,
- developing tools and guidelines on good practice for environmental monitoring and reporting
- monitoring policy implementation to ensure it is effective and delivers what was intended
- understanding relevant science
- commissioning and/or promoting environmental research.
