Foreword
The New Zealand Government is committed to doing its fair share in combating climate change and reducing New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. Tackling climate change is the Government’s number one environmental priority.
New Zealand’s emissions profile is unique for a developed country with half our greenhouse gas emissions coming from agriculture, one of the highest proportions of renewable energy in the world, and a dispersed population with limited viability of public transport. Added to this, we have extensive plantation forestry with 600,000 hectares planted in the 1990s that is due to be harvested in the 2020s. It will be a difficult challenge to reduce our emissions.
Taking into account these factors, and that to date New Zealand’s track record has seen a 22 per cent growth of gross emissions above 1990 levels, the Government has announced an ambitious target to cut New Zealand’s emissions by 10 to 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. In setting our 2020 target the Government has balanced New Zealand’s economic opportunities with its environmental responsibilities and made a commitment to securing a global agreement to limit temperature increases to two degrees.
New Zealand remains committed to exploring innovative, technological solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our biggest challenge is agriculture and that is why we are ramping up our investment in research to find practical technologies that would reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions on farms. New Zealand’s biggest contribution to reducing dangerous climate change will be its continued development of the global alliance on agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation research and we welcome international partners in this initiative.
New Zealand is also taking an important first step in doing our fair share on climate change in introducing a modified emissions trading scheme (ETS) in July next year. The New Zealand ETS is the first of any country outside of Europe and will be the most comprehensive by including transport, industrial and energy emissions.
New Zealand is also the first country in the world to include forestry and will be the first country in the world to include agriculture. The gradual phase-in is about providing support and limiting the costs for households and business as New Zealand pulls out of recession. We do not want to reduce emissions in New Zealand only to have increased emissions elsewhere. The incentives from the ETS must be to invest in new technology and not to just move production offshore. The ETS is balanced and responsible and the right path to a low carbon future.
New Zealand’s climate change policy is not just an ETS. It is complemented by many Government programmes to insulate homes, convert to clean heating, subsidise solar water heating, invest in public transport, facilitate the building of renewable power stations and encourage use of electric cars.
We also remain committed to ensuring New Zealand is prepared to adapt to changes in the climate that are already happening. Adaptation is crucial to the health and well-being of people around the world. New Zealand’s Pacific Island neighbours are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and we are committed to working with them to help mitigate the effects of a changing climate.
This Fifth National Communication reflects the fact that New Zealand's climate change policy is well placed for New Zealand to play a constructive role in securing an international agreement.
[Signed by]
The Honourable Dr Nick Smith
Minister for Climate Change Issues
