An independent report by the Climate Change Commission has warned that New Zealand may miss its emissions reduction targets due to recent government policy decisions. The report, released earlier this month, highlights that Wellington's right-wing government has ignored emissions-cutting advice, particularly regarding biogenic methane reductions and net negative emissions. The Commission recommended strengthening the target to require greater levels of biogenic methane reductions and net negative emissions of all other greenhouse gases. However, the Government responded by amending the Climate Change Response Act to lessen the reductions of biogenic methane required by 2050 and leave the net-zero gas emissions requirements unchanged.
The report warns that government policies excluding agriculture from emissions pricing, changes to clean vehicle rules, reducing reporting requirements for businesses, and planning a liquefied natural gas import facility would raise emissions beyond any savings made elsewhere. Jo Hendy, chief executive of the Commission, said the findings were a "clear warning sign" and that emissions are gradually falling but progress stalled in 2024. She emphasized that current policy settings are not delivering at the pace needed and that government choices in the next 12-24 months will be critical to getting the country back on track.
In the past year, New Zealand had introduced several policies the report said would reduce emissions. However, it noted that these are likely to be outweighed by other actions that may increase emissions. The report also cited Wellington's decision to close the dedicated Ministry for the Environment as a risk, as the ministry will be folded into a new department for cities, environment, regions, and transport. Additionally, Wellington was taken to court this year over its climate policies, with Lawyers for Climate Action and the Environmental Law Initiative arguing it was not doing enough to meet targets. The result of that case is expected in the coming months.
The significance of this report extends beyond New Zealand, as it underscores the challenges countries face in balancing economic interests with climate action. For countries like Bangladesh, which are highly vulnerable to climate change, the lessons from New Zealand's policy missteps highlight the importance of robust and consistent climate policies to meet global emissions targets.
