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MPs collaborate across party lines in response to climate change

Originally published: 24 March 2017
Last updated: 19 April 2017

Updated 19 April 2017

Last year, New Zealand signed up to the Paris Agreement, committing us to a global effort to limit the impacts of climate change. In an effort to meet those obligations, a group of 35 MPs from across Parliament commissioned a report into long-term low emission pathways, which is now available. 

On 13 April the House held a special debate on this report. You can watch the full debate on YouTube, and read the transcript of it on Hansard page of the Parliament website.

Sunlight shining through trees Enlarge image

Sunlight shining through trees

Source: iStock

The report, titled Net zero in New Zealand: Scenarios to achieve domestic emissions neutrality in the second half of the century, looks at pathways to net zero carbon emissions in New Zealand. That’s achieved when we remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as we put into it.

Four potential future scenarios are put forward by the report, covering different pathways to the net zero emissions goal. The aim is to allow legislators to develop robust strategies for emissions reductions, and to identify costs, benefits, and risks of different approaches.

Among the key findings are that any pathway to reducing domestic emissions will involve substantial changes in energy use. The report also concludes that net zero emissions can only be achieved by 2100 by altering land-use patterns and adopting new technologies.

Download the full report from Vivid Economics

A non-partisan, unified approach from Parliament

The report is the product of GLOBE New Zealand, a cross-party working group that involves MPs from all parties. It’s chaired by Dr Kennedy Graham, and the executive committee includes Hon Peter Dunne, Marama Fox, Tracey Martin, Scott Simpson, and Dr Megan Woods.

“The breakthrough here is that the group now owns a shared report on emissions reductions that it can debate with greater clarity than ever before,” said Dr Graham. “Parliament has in fact decided that it will hold a debate in April, focused specifically on the report. That, too, is unprecedented.”

GLOBE New Zealand is a chapter of the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE). The international organisation brings together parliamentarians from over 80 countries, with a focus on implementing laws in pursuit of sustainable development.

Members: 

Andrew Bayly, Gareth Hughes, Eugenie Sage, Chris Bishop, Hon Tim Macindoe, Alastair Scott, David Clendon, Tracey Martin, David Seymour, Ian McKelvie, James Shaw, Steffan Browning, Hon Peter Dunne,  Hon Mark Mitchell, Barbara Kuriger, Kris Faafoi, Todd Muller, Hon Scott Simpson, Marama Fox, Denis O’Rourke, Stuart Smith, Julie Anne Genter, Hon David Parker, Aupito William Sio, Michael Wood, Grant Robertson, Fletcher Tabuteau, Dr Kennedy Graham, Adrian Rurawhe, Dr Megan Woods, Todd Barclay, Denise Roche, Jan Logie, Barry Coates