Figure 1: Ministry for the Environment outcomes framework

Our mission
Environmental stewardship for a prosperous New Zealand

• Long-term outcomes
  • New Zealand becomes a successful low-carbon society that is resilient to climate change impacts on its climate, economy and lifestyle
  • New Zealand's fresh water is well governed and sustainably managed to realise the maximum benefit possible for present and future environmental, cultural, social and economic values
  • New Zealand's environmental management systems are strengthened and supported so that they can achieve the greatest overall environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits

• Impact the Ministry is seeking to achieve

  • Decrease New Zealand's net emissions of greenhouse gases below business as usual levels in a cost-effective way
  • Improve quality, flow and availability of fresh water through more effective management frameworks
  • Improve the resource management framework to manage environmental effects and allocate resources within environmental limits
  • Improve the relationship between the Ministry and Māori by negotiating and implementing fair, durable and fit for purpose deeds of settlement and environmental accords
  • Reduce harm from natural, chemical and biological hazards and from waste through more effective management frameworks
  • Achieve better solutions to environmental problems by supporting community involvement and action and international cooperation

   

• Departmental outputs
  

• Climate change

  • Domestic climate change programme policy advice
  • International climate change programme policy advice
  • Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Levy
  • Land use and carbon analysis system
  • Administration of the Emissions Trading Scheme
• Improving resource management
  • Water management policy advice
  • Marine environment policy advice
  • Resource management policy advice
  • Resource management implementation
  • Developing and implementing Treaty settlements and environmental accords policy advice
• Mitigating environmental hazards and waste
  • Environmental hazards and waste policy advice
  • Waste management and minimisation
  • Waste minimisation administration
• Environmental management obligations and programmes
  • Domestic obligations and programmes
  • International obligations and institutions policy advice
• Strategic approaches
  • Define, design and deliver tools and institutions which increase economic incentives to change behaviour
  • Produce, use and publish credible evidence and feed evaluation information into what we do
  • Work more closely with Māori to develop deeper relationships and understandings, using new policies and processes
  • Foster enduring relationships with stakeholders who lead and are trusted by their constituents
• Behaviours
  • Analyse
  • Engage
  • Learn
  • Validate
  • Collaborate