Consultation: Review of the 2050 emissions reduction target

Closes 31 May 2024

Opened 8 Apr 2024

Results expected 31 Dec 2024

Contact

haveyoursay@climatecommission.govt.nz

Overview

To ensure that Aotearoa New Zealand's 2050 emissions reduction target remains fit for purpose, the Commission is required to review it every five years and provide independent expert advice to the government of the day on whether any changes should be made.

We are currently doing our first such review. We have released a discussion document on this and are seeking your feedback.

Read this discussion document:

Discussion document and supporting material (click to expand)

Discussion document:

Supporting material:

This review is one of three pieces of advice we are currently developing on Aotearoa New Zealand's emissions reduction target and emissions budgets, alongside:

We will be consulting on all three of these during 8 April – 31 May 2024. They are all due to be delivered to the Minister of Climate Change and published before 31 December 2024.

More information about this review (click to expand)

The emissions reduction target was set by Parliament to focus Aotearoa New Zealand’s efforts on climate action. It provides a consistent signal to government, businesses and communities so they can plan long-term action and investment. However, if it is no longer fit for purpose then it will lead the country on the wrong path.

To ensure that the target remains fit for purpose we are required to review it every five years, and provide independent expert advice on whether any changes should be made. We are doing the first such review now.

The bar for change is high – we can only recommend a change to the emissions reduction target if:

  • there has been or likely will be a significant change since 2019 in specific criteria (specified in section 5T of the Climate Change Response Act) – e.g. if there is significant new evidence or a new global context for change, and
  • we are satisfied that this significant change justifies a change to the target.

If we consider that a change to the target is justified, we must advise the Government on how the target should be altered.

These could be changes to what the components are, what gases they apply to, when they have to be met by, and how much can be met in Aotearoa New Zealand or paid for overseas.

Read more background information about this review on our website.

We are looking for your feedback to strengthen our understanding of the issues and impacts that need to be taken into account as we prepare our final advice and recommendations.

Once you have read the consultation document and are ready to provide your feedback, you can make a submission via this online survey.

Alternatively, you can send us your submission by post or email:

How to send your submission by post or email (click to expand)

If you are emailing or posting your feedback, please download and complete a contact and consent form and include this with your submission: Consent form for offline submissions [.DOCX – 336 KB]

You can email us your submission at haveyoursay@climatecommission.govt.nz

You can send us your submission by post to the address below:

Consultation: 2024 Review of the 2050 target

Climate Change Commission

PO Box 24448, Wellington 6142

Make a submission

Begin Online Survey