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Policies and initiatives

The Ministry for the Environment is responsible for coordinating climate change policy across government. This is to ensure effective collaboration on climate change policies and strategies.

Major climate change policies and strategies

The key climate change policies and strategies have been developed in collaboration across government, and alongside extensive consultation with New Zealanders. These strategies are now being implemented by the different lead agencies.

International climate change policy

New Zealand participates in multilateral agreements and bilateral climate change partnerships to address the mitigation and adaptation challenges of climate change. International climate change discussions and negotiations are held principally under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Other government sustainability initiatives that have climate change benefits

A wider suite of other sustainability initiatives that have climate change benefits are also underway. These include initiatives on Energy, Transport, Industry, Sustainable Land Management (agriculture and forestry), Waste, Households, Public sector and other initiatives on public awareness, research and enhanced eco verification.

Local Government’s role

The Government also recognises that local authorities have a significant role to play in New Zealand’s climate change response and are committed to working in partnership with local authorities on a number of sustainability policies which are relevant to climate change. Including the Communities for Climate Change Protection programme.

History of policy development

Responding to climate change is a fast moving area of public policy development. In this section more information about the history of policy development, the development phases and the key cabinet papers are available. It also includes policy reviews and the basis for decisions on current climate change policy.

Kyoto Protocol initiatives

Kyoto Protocol initiatives are initiatives that are linked to, or implement the flexibility mechanisms of the Protocol. This includes

  • Clean Development Mechanism
  • Joint Implementation (including Projects to reduce Emissions)

The Kyoto flexibility mechanisms are designed to help developed countries reduce the costs of meeting their emissions targets by achieving emission reductions at lower costs through projects in other countries.

Lead agencies

Policy implementation is being lead by the following agencies:

Emissions Trading Scheme – Ministry for the Environment. Also see the Climate Change Information webpages.

Agriculture and forestry – Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Transport – Ministry of Transport

Energy – Ministry of Economic Development

Energy efficiency and conservation – Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority

Waste – Ministry for the Environment

Adaptation to climate change - Ministry for the Environment

International negotiations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Last updated: 24 August 2009