The Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues’ responsibilities under the Climate Change Response Act 2002
The Minister for Climate Change Issues has responsibilities under the Climate Change Response Act 2002, which was amended by the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading) Amendment Act 2008.
The Minister for Climate Change Issues has the following powers, functions and responsibilities under the Climate Change Response Act which must be exercised in relation to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
- To ensure that an allocation plan for pre-1990 forest land is in force from 1 January 2008 and make determinations for the free allocation of New Zealand units in accordance with the plan
- To appoint a person to apply for and hold in trust New Zealand units to be freely allocated in relation to Crown forest licence land that has not been transferred to iwi as part of a Treaty of Waitangi settlement by the date on which the allocation plan is issued
- To ensure allocation plans are in force at the appropriate times for the industrial, agriculture and fisheries sectors and make determinations for the free allocation of New Zealand units in accordance with those plans
- To establish the Innovation Fund to facilitate innovative technology that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector and make grants of New Zealand units from the Innovation Fund
- To ensure that, at the end of the true-up period, Crown holdings of Kyoto units equal the number of New Zealand units, not subsequently transferred offshore or cancelled, issued into a Crown holding account and during the relevant Kyoto commitment period
- To initiate and appoint a panel to conduct a review of the operation and effectiveness of the emissions trading scheme
The Minister for Climate Change Issues also has the following powers, functions and responsibilities which may be exercised in relation to the emissions trading scheme.
- To move the agricultural sector point of obligation for participating in the emissions trading scheme from fertiliser manufacturers and dairy, meat and wool processing companies to individual farmers
- To bring into force provisions enabling farmers to choose to become participants, but only if the mandatory agriculture sector point of obligation remains at the processor level
- Bring the forestry offsetting provisions into force if satisfied that an international agreement permits offsetting for pre-1990 forest land
- To exempt any person listed in Schedule 3 from being a participant
- To issue New Zealand units into a Crown holding account in consultation with the Minister of Finance
- To notify the Crown’s intention to issue and sell, or allocate freely, New Zealand units
- To direct the Chief Executive in relation to the Chief Executive’s exercise of power and performance of functions under Parts 4 and 5 of the Act
- To add further removal activities to Schedule 4, and activities relating to fishing and coastal shipping to Schedule 3
- To make regulations relating to a wide range of matters related to the emissions trading scheme
- To Gazette targets
Finally, the Minister for Climate Change Issues has the following powers, functions and responsibilities which may be exercised in relation to the inventory agency.
- To direct the inventory agency in its function of providing reports under the Kyoto Protocol on New Zealand’s emissions profile to calculate our liability
- To authorise suitably qualified and trained people to exercise inspection powers in relation to inventory agency functions
- To recommend to the Governor-General the making of regulations requiring people to keep and provide information to the inventory agency on emissions and removals of greenhouse gases, if necessary, to help New Zealand meet its obligations under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change or the Kyoto Protocol
Last updated: 29 May 2009
