23 May 2019
‘Zero Carbon Bill’ opens for submissions: Have your say on New Zealand’s climate change policies

Public submissions are now open on the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill, which is being considered by the Environment Committee.

The purpose of the Zero Carbon Bill is to establish a framework which New Zealand can use to develop clear, stable climate change policies in line with the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement is a global effort to combat the effects of climate change. It aims to achieve this by limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The bill would set greenhouse gas reduction targets into law and require that future governments continue these efforts. It also seeks to:

• Set up the Climate Change Commission, an independent body that will advise and support the government to reach the targets
• Create a requirement that the government sets emission budgets every five years that will act as ‘stepping stones’ towards the ultimate goal of zero greenhouse gases by 2050
• Create a requirement that the government understands the risk of climate change (for example, rising sea levels) and produces plans to address these

This bill would be an amendment to the existing Climate Change Response Act 2002, meaning that all of the key climate-related legislation would be covered under one Act.

In the first reading of the bill, Dr Deborah Russell, Chair of the Environment Committee, said: “…we've got to move beyond the fine words, we've got to move beyond the fine sentiments. We must actually take action, and that is what this bill is”.

The bill passed its first reading on 21 May 2019 and was referred to the Environment Committee. The committee called for submissions on 23 May, and the bill will be open for submissions until 16 July 2019.

Tell the Environment Committee what you think
Send your submission on the bill by midnight on 16 July 2019.

Want to know more about making a submission? Check out this video.
For more details about the bill:
• Read the full content of the bill
• Get more details about the bill
• What’s been said in Parliament about the bill?
• Follow the committee’s Facebook page for updates

ENDS

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