New Zealand: Political highlights from the NZ Climate Change and Business Conference – Watch Video

From Left: Chris Hipkins, Labour, Qiulae Wong, The Opportunity Party, Dr David Wilson, NZ First, Chlöe Swarbrick, NZ Green Party, David Seymour, ACT, and Simon Watts, Climate Change Minister, National Party – Image: Environmental Defense Society (EDS)

New Zealand political leaders outlined contrasting approaches to climate policy at the 18th Climate Change and Business Conference in Auckland. The conference was jointly hosted by the Environmental Defence Society (EDS), the Sustainable Business Council and the Climate Leaders Coalition. The political session took the form of fireside chats and a recording is available (see link below).

Opposition party and Labour party leader Chris Hipkins committed Labour to remaining in the Paris Agreement and to an immediate review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), addressing forestry offsets, whole-farm conversions and incentives for genuine emissions reductions. Labour would also develop a comprehensive energy strategy, reform the electricity market and oppose an LNG import terminal, if re-elected at the forthcoming general New Zealand elections in November.

The National party’s government Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said remaining in Paris was a clear bottom line for National and defended the Climate Change Commission’s advisory role. He emphasised the need for stability in the ETS, technology-led agricultural methane reductions and continued electrification. He defended a proposed Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) import facility in Taranaki as insurance against dry-year electricity shortages.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick advocated greater emphasis on domestic emissions reductions, an energy strategy and strengthening the independent role of the New Zealand Climate Change Commission.

ACT party leader and government coalition partner David Seymour supported the ETS as an efficient mechanism but questioned New Zealand’s Paris obligations and proposed abolishing the Commission, with its statutory functions returning to the responsible ministry.

Coalition partner New Zealand First’s Dr David Wilson called for withdrawal from Paris, review of the Commission and structural electricity-market reform.

New Zealand’s political newcomer The Opportunity Party’s Qiulae Wong announced a $1 billion Industry Energy Resilience Fund, financed through a green bond backed by future ETS auction revenue, and argued for cross-party commitments on both mitigation and adaptation.

Environmental Defense Society CEO and moderator Gary Taylor noted that the clearest common ground was around energy security, increased renewable generation and the need for practical action on climate adaptation, although parties differed on how adaptation should be funded and delivered.

“There was significant, but not universal, support for a national energy strategy, retaining an independent Climate Change Commission and remaining in the Paris Agreement. While most parties recognised the importance of a credible ETS, they differed markedly on the need for further reform,” Mr Taylor said.

Video-Link

NAN/EDS 12-09-26

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