Hon
David Parker - 6/10/2006 - Climate Change minister
David Parker today reinforced the need for New
Zealand-wide action on climate change during a
keynote speech in Wellington outlining the government's
strategic direction on the issue.
"Climate change is widely
recognised as a serious global problem. There
is a growing sense of urgency among governments
and citizens that action needs to be taken now.
"As a biologically based
economy and trading nation, New Zealand's national
interests are threatened by climate change. The
Ministry of Economic Development's recently released
"Energy Outlook" projects that 'business
as usual' will lead to a 30 per cent increase
in New Zealand's energy-related greenhouse gas
emissions in the next 25 years.
"Given the imperative for
the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
and the likelihood that, in future, emissions
will carry an economic cost to the country, it
is vital that New Zealand alters its growing emissions
path.
"With that in mind we have
been announcing initiatives across the whole of
government, which will help New Zealanders respond
to climate change."
These include:
An adaptation programme to prepare for the impacts
of climate change, especially in our coastal areas,
and in the farming sector
Measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings
Consultation on a minimum biofuels sales obligation
A commitment to increase the uptake of solar water
heating
Options to create links with the Asia Pacific
Partnership for Clean Development and Climate
The launch of the Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative
"The government expects
to announce further proposals in coming weeks.
They will include options to improve the fuel
efficiency of our vehicle fleet, and ways in which
government agencies can lead the way in sustainable
practices.
"The government is also
considering measures to discourage deforestation
and encourage forest planting, and ways in which
the agricultural sector can contribute to a climate
change response, given it contributes around half
of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions."
David Parker said a combination
of sectoral and economy-wide measures, including
voluntary, price-based and regulatory measures,
is likely to be needed in the long-term.
"The government is conscious
of the need to prepare for a world where the cost
of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is reflected
in every economy.
"Applying this principle
broadly across the economy is likely to form a
basis for policy post 2012."
Government initiatives with
climate change benefits
Energy
The New Zealand Energy Strategy (NZES)
The NZES is to set a long-term goal to move towards
a secure, low-carbon energy system to ensure New
Zealand’s enduring competitive advantage. The
Strategy will help us to better manage New Zealand's
future energy demands by creating policy that
encourages the use of our renewable energy resources,
reduces greenhouse gas emissions (from fossil
fuel generation) and improves our energy efficiency.
An action plan supporting the Strategy will look
at options to meet demand for non-transport energy
services through renewable new generation investments
until clean fossil fuel technologies are practical.
Actions to manage transport energy demand and
enhance security include: increasing the diversity
of transport fuels, improving the efficiency of
the vehicle fleet and encouraging more energy-efficient
transport choices.
The National Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Strategy (NEECS)
The NEECS promotes energy efficiency, renewable
energy and energy conservation. A replacement
Strategy is currently being prepared as a subset
of the New Zealand Energy Strategy. It is expected
that the replacement Strategy will place stronger
emphasis on improved energy efficiency and renewable
energy as means to address climate change.
The Emprove programme, including
the energy intensive business (EIB) programme
The Emprove programme helps reduce emissions by
working directly with large energy-using businesses
to help them identify ways to better manage their
energy use. Services provided under the Emprove
programme include management tools, resources
and training. Some assistance is provided to meet
the costs of carrying out energy audits. Cash
grants are available under the energy intensive
business (EIB) programme for demonstration projects
of energy efficient technologies in target sectors.
Consideration of a National
Policy Statement under the RMA for electricity
generation
A National Policy Statement on electricity generation
is currently under consideration. If developed,
it is expected that this will reduce emissions
by providing policy and guidance for renewable
energy generation projects such as wind, geothermal
and hydro.
Contribution of Line Companies
to Local Generation
The Government released a discussion document
earlier this year entitled "Facilitating
investment in electricity generation by lines
companies" to consider, among other things,
whether rules should be relaxed to stimulate investment
by generators and retailers in locally generated
energy (including renewable energy). Other than
the gains from greater investment in renewable
energy, localised generation also reduces emissions
as there is lower energy loss during the transmission
of electricity.
Proposed regulations for distributed
generation
Proposed regulations for the connection of distributed
generation will help the reduction of emissions
by ensuring that renewable electricity generation
technologies do not face unnecessary barriers
in connecting to electricity lines.
Housing and Buildings
Building Code review
The Building Code review will reduce emissions
by ensuring that our buildings are designed, constructed
and used in ways that promote energy conservation
and efficiency in water heating, space conditioning,
heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting.
Minimum energy performance standards
(MEPS)
The Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)
programme reduces emissions by ensuring products
such as fridges/freezers, hot water cylinders,
and air conditioners comply with specific standards
for energy efficiency.
Energy Star - energy efficiency rating labels
Energy Rating Labels reduce emissions by enabling
consumers to make energy-wise choices when buying
new appliances by making it easy to compare the
energy consumption of different models.
EnergyWise home grants scheme
The EnergyWise home grants scheme reduces emissions
by funding improvements for low-income households
and households affected by respiratory illness
to install ceiling and underfloor insulation and
draught-proofing in pre-1977 homes. Energywise
grants may also fund other energy-saving measures
such as underfloor moisture barriers, insulating
hot water cylinders, pipe lagging, fluorescent
lighting and low-flow shower heads.
Home Energy Ratings Scheme
The Home Energy Rating Scheme (HERS) is an energy
rating tool under development that encourages
emissions reduction by informing property owners,
prospective buyers and tenants aware of the energy
performance of their houses.
Solar water heating programme
The solar water heating programme reduces emissions
by promoting the uptake of solar water heating,
which in turn reduces the demand for electricity
and gas through the use of a renewable resource.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
(EECA) is leading the Government's solar water
heating programme and has published a discussion
document which looks at the barriers to greater
use of solar water heating and options for overcoming
these barriers.
Govt3 programme - Procurement
of office consumable and equipment, waste minimisation
and recycling, transport and buildings
The Govt3 programme is a programme
for core central agencies, departments and Ministries.
It helps achieve office management cost improvements
while maximising energy efficiency and minimising
greenhouse gas emissions.
Warm Homes programme
The aim of this programme is to reduce the amount
of air pollution and fine particles produced by
domestic solid fuel burners and open fires (which
are the primary ways that most of our homes are
heated). The programme reduces emissions by promoting
more energy-efficient alternative heating sources
thereby achieving lower emissions per unit of
heat.
New Zealand Housing Strategy
The New Zealand Housing Strategy will help reduce
emissions by promoting energy efficient houses
that are healthier homes. In addition to the health
benefits, energy efficient homes have a reduced
environmental impact and lower heating costs.
Urban Design Protocol
The Urban Design Protocol aims to make our towns
and cities more successful by using quality urban
design principles. These principles include the
greater use of low-emissions public transport
which reduces emissions.
Smart build resource
The smart build resource reduces emissions by
providing us with a framework that promotes sustainability
and energy efficiency when designing and building
housing.
Improving the energy efficiency
of New Zealand homes and commercial buildings
The Government has announced a new package of
work aimed at improving the energy efficiency
and reducing the carbon intensity of New Zealand
homes and commercial buildings. The work programme
will reduce the amount of energy required to heat
new homes, to heat water in new and existing homes,
and to light, heat, ventilate and air condition
commercial buildings. The work programme consists
of four initiatives:
Higher thermal insulation performance
requirements for new homes
Making it easier to install solar water heating
systems
Improving lighting in commercial buildings
Improving heating, ventilation and air systems
in commercial buildings
A public discussion document is planned for November
2006. Government decisions on the proposed measures
will be made by April 2007.
Transport initiatives
Biofuels Sales Obligation
Biofuels are made from renewable biological sources.
As the use of biofuels replaces fossil fuels,
our emissions are reduced and the diversity of
our fuel supply is increased. A discussion document
has been released to seek public views on a sales
obligation for biofuels that would require a minimum
percentage of biofuels in New Zealand's liquid
transport fuels.
Measures to support the Biofuel
Sales Obligation
Legislation and regulatory changes will be required
to support a biofuels sales obligation. For biofuels
quality, it is proposed that the New Zealand Biodiesel
Standard NZS 10000:2005 and the Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Authority's voluntary standard
on bioethanol be the basis for development of
fuel quality specifications for biodiesel and
bioethanol. It is also proposed that penalties
for non-compliance with fuel quality standards
be extended to include biofuels and that the Petroleum
Product Specification Regulations and the Petroleum
Fuels Monitoring Levy are extended and renamed
to include biofuels.
Fuelsaver website
The Fuelsaver website makes up-to-date information
available to drivers about the fuel efficiency
of vehicles. It reduces emissions by encouraging
people to consider fuel consumption when buying
a vehicle.
Vehicle fuel consumer information
initiative
The Ministry of Transport is leading the Vehicle
Fuel Consumption Information project. This programme
reduces emissions by making information available
on the fuel consumption of new and used vehicles
to encourage people to buy more fuel-efficient
cars. It will also measure the fuel consumption
of the New Zealand vehicle fleet.
Travel behaviour change programmes
Land Transport New Zealand coordinates a number
of 'travel behaviour change' programmes which
reduce emissions by encouraging people to change
their travel behaviour, thereby reducing the need
for some car travel. Walking school buses, Walk
to School Week, school travel plans and workplace
travel plans are all examples of travel behaviour
change programmes that are being developed in
and by communities all over New Zealand.
Walking School Bus programme
(including Walk to School Week) (PDF 1.3 MB)
The Walking School Bus programme reduces emissions
by promoting a fun, safe and energy-efficient
way for children to walk to school, thereby reducing
the number of short car trips. 22,000 children
participated in the first “Walk to School Week”
campaign of 6-10 March 2006.
Auckland School Travel Plan
programme
The Auckland School Travel Plan programme reduces
emissions by promoting a collective action plan
endorsed by the school community to encourage
greater use of walking, cycling, car-pooling and
public transport for the journey to and from school.
'Choke the smoke’ campaign
The “Choke the Smoke” campaign developed by the
Ministry of Transport will deliver improved fuel
economy and reductions in emissions through increased
tuning of car engines in order to reduce harmful
emissions that affect personal health. Use of
alternative transportation (e.g. public transport,
walking, cycling etc) is also promoted through
the campaign. From 27 October 2006, all vehicles
will need to pass a visible smoke check before
their Warrant of Fitness or Certificate of Fitness
can be renewed.
Govt3 Programme - Fleet Audit
The Ministry for the Environment and Ministry
of Transport are working to achieve reductions
in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
by offering all Govt3 signatories with fleets
of over 50 vehicles the opportunity to have a
free fleet audit undertaken.
Review of Auckland Regional
Growth Strategy (concentration of development
around transport nodes)
The Review of the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy
will reduce emissions by creating a city that
has, among other things, a high quality environment
and increased use of public transport through
the development of transport 'hubs' or 'nodes'.
Measures to improve the fuel
efficiency of the vehicle fleet
The Government has indicated its intention to
improve the fuel efficiency of New Zealand's vehicle
fleet. Announcements on proposals to achieve this
are due in October 2006.
Measures to reduce motorway
congestion
In addition to substantial increases in funding
for motorway construction, the Government is putting
in place measures to target congestion on suburban
motorways, including automated traffic flow management
systems at point of entry to motorways.
Investment in public transport
A number of initiatives are underway to improve
New Zealand's public transport. In the 2006/07
financial year, the Government committed $301
million to fund public transport and re-purchased
the nation's rail tracks. The 2006/07 National
Land Transport Programme allocated $136 million
to passenger transport community services, $5.24
million to social services and $159.77 million
to passenger transport infrastructure. Included
in this amount is a commitment of $66.83 million
for continuation of the Northern Busway in Auckland.
The allocation for passenger transport services
increased by 16% compared with 2005/06. Additionally,
the Government has committed $600 million over
the next four years to the ONTRACK programme to
renew and upgrade the Auckland rail network ‘below
track’ infrastructure.
Mandatory fuel efficiency labelling
The Government has indicated its intention to
introduce mandatory fuel efficiency labelling
at point of sale so that consumers are empowered
to make an informed choice every time they purchase
a new or used vehicle.
Changes to Petroleum Product
Specification Regulations
Work is underway to reduce maximum permitted levels
of sulphur, which in addition to delivering air
quality benefits, will make New Zealand's fuel
compatible with high-efficiency diesel vehicles.
Waste & Eco-Efficiency initiatives
Reduce Your Rubbish campaign
This campaign provides simple ways to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by providing practical information
on composting plant waste, food waste and other
organic waste materials that would otherwise produce
methane gas (a powerful greenhouse gas) in our
landfills.
National Environmental Standard
(NES) for landfill gas
This Standard requires the collection and destruction
of methane gas emitted from our landfills as a
result of the decomposition of organic waste materials.
The Standard allows for beneficial uses of the
methane gas, for example generation of electricity
from the gas.
Organic Waste Programme
The Organic Waste Programme aims to reduce the
amount of organic waste deposited into our landfills,
thereby reducing methane emissions. The goal of
the programme is the 95% diversion of commercial
organic wastes from landfills by 2010, bringing
down total landfill volumes by 800,000 tonnes
and saving around $40 million in disposal costs
each year.
New Zealand Waste Strategy
The New Zealand Waste Strategy reduces emissions
by setting in place a framework for addressing
how we can minimise and manage our waste while
aiming towards a zero waste future. In particular,
the Strategy's focus on minimising organic wastes
to landfill reduces methane emissions, while its
work to re-use and recycle wastes with high embedded
energy (e.g. metals) also reduces energy consumption
and associated greenhouse gases. Practical targets
within the Strategy include: re-using and recycling
high-volume wastes, minimising and managing hazardous
wastes, upgrading waste disposal facilities, and
charging waste generators the true environmental
cost of treatment and disposal.
Simply Sustainable – an eco-efficiency
toolkit for business
This web-based resource helps businesses reduce
their emissions by promoting energy efficiency
and best practice in waste management. The Simply
Sustainable website is part of a wider “Eco Efficiency”
programme run by the Ministry for the Environment
which also reduces emissions by promoting best
practice in relation to waste, resource efficiency
and energy efficiency.
Water initiatives
Water quality improvements in Lake Taupo
Past and current land use activities are threatening
Lake Taupo’s water quality. To alleviate the problems
caused by the excess agricultural runoff (including
nitrates derived from the use of nitrogen fertiliser),
the government is working with local stakeholders
to encourage more sustainable land uses e.g. reforestation
of land and best practice use of nitrogen fertilisers,
which in turn reduce emissions.
The Sustainable Water Programme
of Action
This programme seeks to improve the management
and protection of our freshwater resources into
the future and acknowledges the fundamental importance
of water to all New Zealanders. This programme
promotes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
(for water quality reasons) and the need to consider
climate change in terms of future planning for
water allocation and availability.
Auckland Regional Council Start
Programme (long term sustainability planning for
the Auckland region)
This programme highlights the six areas of change
that will impact on the region and its people.
It recognises climate change as one of these areas
and provides guidance to help focus attention
and manage climate change emissions and the impacts
of climate change.
Dairying Clean Streams Accord
The Dairying Clean Streams Accord provides a statement
of intent and framework for actions to promote
sustainable dairy farming in New Zealand. It focuses
on reducing the impacts of dairying on the quality
of our streams, rivers, lakes, ground water, and
wetlands, including the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions from the use of nitrogen fertiliser.
Agriculture and Forestry
Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative (PFSI)
The Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative (PFSI) reduces
emissions by providing an opportunity for landowners
to establish permanent forests (which absorb greenhouse
gas emissions) and gain fully tradable Kyoto Protocol
compliant emission units.
Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research
Consortium (PGGRC) research
The Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium
research programme aims to reduce emissions by
developing safe, cost-effective greenhouse gas
reduction technologies to lower total New Zealand
ruminant methane and nitrous oxide emissions by
at least 20 percent by 2012. Research areas include
on-farm technologies to improve production efficiency
for ruminant animals and reduce emissions from
digestion, and exploration of low-emission forage
crops and nitrogen inhibitors.
The forestry industry development
agenda (FIDA)
The forestry industry development agenda (FIDA)
reduces emissions as forests have an important
role in mitigating climate change effects. Targeted
transformational initiatives within FIDA also
provides funding for woody biomass (bio-energy)
projects.
Sustainable Land Management
Framework
The Sustainable Land Management Framework provides
a strategic focus for the Government to promote
sustainable land management, including afforestation,
reforestation and best practice use of nitrogen
fertilisers, which in turn reduce emissions.
Sustainable Farming Fund funding
The Sustainable Farming Fund funding assists the
land-based sectors to take up opportunities to
overcome barriers to economic, social and environmental
viability, . Funding categories include climate
change.
Implementing FACE programmes
The Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE)
experiment studies the consequences of elevated
atmospheric CO2 for grazed ecosystems. Implementing
FACE-consistent programmes expands knowledge of
grazing performance under expected future atmospheric
concentrations of carbon dioxide.
Landcare Trust Funding
Landcare Trust Funding provides support for projects
that make a practical contribution to sustainable
land management or biodiversity on private land
including afforestation and reforestation activities
which reduce emissions. The funding also promotes
community awareness and knowledge exchange.
Biodiversity and Conservation
New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy
The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy aims to
halt the decline of indigenous biodiversity and
protecting valuable introduced biodiversity on
land and freshwater. The Strategy encourages afforestation
and reforestation activities which reduce emissions.
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement
The New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement lists
policies in order to achieve the purpose of the
RMA in relation to the coastal environment of
New Zealand. The Policy Statement includes consideration
of the impacts of sea level rise on coastal hazards.
Hazard Management
Flood Risk Management Review
Floods are expected to increase the frequency
and severity of flooding in some parts of New
Zealand, particularly those already vulnerable
to floods. The Government's flood risk management
review is seeking to improve how we manage flood
risk and river control.
Review of the National Civil
Defence Emergency Management Strategy, Plan and
Guide
The Review of the National Civil Defence Emergency
Management Strategy, Plan and Guide found that
future local emergency response capabilities in
the four regions surveyed is of high standard.
In some regions, the regional response process
will work as expected under the Act, and good
progress has been made by both regions and the
Ministry in implementing the new civil defence
emergency management environment. This includes
consideration of changing risk profiles under
climate change.
Building Resilience - A Review
of the On-farm Adverse Events Recovery Framework
With the impact of accelerated climate change
we need to plan for bigger, more intense and more
frequent adverse weather events. The Building
Resilience programme outlines options for what
recovery assistance central government could provide
to farms following an adverse event. It also proposes
a new approach to grading adverse events that
attempts to be clear, consistent, but also flexible
in order to take into account the unique circumstances
of each adverse event.
Other Change Climate initiatives
4 Million Careful Owners campaign
The climate change section of the www.4million.org
website provides practical and simple ways for
us to reduce our energy use and emissions. The
website encourages us to make better choices about
transport and energy and what we do with our waste.
New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory
The New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory documents
the sources of our greenhouse gas emissions and
identifies specific areas to target for the reduction
of emissions.
New Zealand Carbon Accounting
System
A Carbon Accounting System helps reduce emissions
by providing a consistent and transparent framework
to ensure that how we measure our carbon emissions
complies with international standards and is scientifically
sound.
No Loss – Synthetic Greenhouse
Gas initiative
“No Loss” is a scheme that requires bodies which
handle synthetic greenhouse gases (greenhouse
gas emissions which are, on average, several thousands
of times more powerful than carbon dioxide) to
have formal accreditation to minimise the risk
of synthetic greenhouse gases leaking into the
atmosphere.
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) - Memorandum of Understanding
with Industry
This Memorandum promotes industry to adopt best
practice in relation to the management of emissions
of sulphur hexafluoride (a greenhouse gas which
is many tens of thousands of times more powerful
than carbon dioxide) to the atmosphere.
Projects to Reduce Emissions
(PRE) programme
The PRE programme supports initiatives to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions over the first Kyoto
Protocol commitment period (2008 – 2012) by awarding
emissions units or "carbon credits".
These projects deliver reductions beyond those
that would have occurred without the project.
Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements (NGAs) programme
The NGA programme seeks to reduce emissions by
use of agreements with industry. The future of
such agreements is being considered as part of
the current policy development process.
Quality Planning Website - Guidance on the Resource
Management Act 2004 amendment relating to climate
change effects
The Quality planning website provides information
on expected climate change impacts in New Zealand
and advice on methods for considering and addressing
climate change effects under the RMA.
Climate change adaptation work
programme
The climate change adaptation work programme has
developed a range of informational and guidance
materials on the impacts of climate change and
how we can adapt to and plan for climate change.
The Government will be enhancing adaptation efforts
by ensuring better co-ordination between central
government agencies, through the formation of
new partnerships with local government, the agricultural
sector, insurers and engineers, and by engaging
with a wider range of other parties, including
non-governmental organisations, on the need to
prepare for climate change.
Communities for Climate Protection
New Zealand programme (CCP-NZ)
The Communities for Climate Protection New Zealand
programme (CCP-NZ) provides the framework to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency
and conservation, increasing sustainable transportation,
enhancing urban design, and reducing landfill
emissions at the municipal level.
Development of the New Zealand Emissions Unit
Registry (PDF 153 KB)
Development of the New Zealand Emissions Unit
Registry is underway. The Registry will provide
a framework through which private individuals
and firms can hold accounts for Kyoto-compliant
emissions units ('carbon credits') allocated under
the Projects to Reduce Emissions programme and
the Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative, as well
as under the Kyoto Protocol's 'Joint Implementation'
mechanism and 'Clean Development Mechanism'.
Exploration of possible opportunities
for participation in the Asia Pacific Partnership
for Clean Development and Climate
The Government will be exploring options to create
links with the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean
Development and Climate. Its current members (Australia,
China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and
the United States) represent half of the world's
economy and population, and account for half of
its energy use. In view of the scale of the challenge
posed by climate change, and New Zealand's desire
to use all possible means to respond to it, there
could be value in having closer links with this
Partnership.
Special tribunal invites public
to make submissions
Media release: 2 October 2006
The special tribunal, appointed
by the Minister for the Environment, to hear the
Fish and Game application for a water conservation
order on the Oreti River, has publicly notified
the application.
The Chairman of the special
tribunal, Dr Brent Cowie, said the public is now
invited to make submissions on the application
and says the application, and further information
about the application, can be viewed on the Ministry
for the Environment's website and at the Southland
Regional Council office in Invercargill, the district
council offices in Queenstown, Lumsden, Te Anau
and Gore.
“I and the other tribunal members,
Dr Paul Blaschke and Dr Gail Tipa, are aware of
the interest in the Oreti River and are looking
forward to receiving submissions from members
of the public and interest groups,” he said.
"At this stage, we intend
to do a site visit in early December and expect
to hold the hearing of the application in Invercargill
in late January and early February 2007. "
NZ Fish and Game is seeking
protection of the main stem of the Oreti River
upstream of Mossburn, specified tributaries and
connected groundwater. They want recognition of
the natural values of the river, its angling value
and trout and wildlife habitats.
Fish and Game are also seeking
protection of the main stem of the Oreti River
from Mossburn to Wallacetown for the contribution
it makes to the angling and fishery values upstream.
Copies of the application and
further information is held at the Wellington
and Christchurch offices of the Ministry for the
Environment.
