Our MPs need to act now for New Zealand's future, writes Generation Zero's James Young-Drew.
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright recommends hat New Zealand follow the UK’s approach, where their Climate Change Act 2008 sets legally binding emission reduction targets. Photo: Nasa
Dr Jan Wright has released her last, and in my view, most important report as the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. It deals with climate change, a threat she describes as the “most serious environmental issue of all”, and the “ultimate intergenerational issue”.
The required response is clear. Through the Paris Agreement, New Zealand has joined 195 nations in committing to stabilise global warming by reducing carbon emissions to net zero. A global transition to carbon neutrality will also bring about major benefits in public health, technological opportunity, and environmental sustainability.
Yet unlike an increasing number of other countries, New Zealand doesn’t have a plan to realise any of this. And our emissions continue to rise in the meantime.
Dr Wright’s report recommends that New Zealand follow the UK’s approach, where their Climate Change Act 2008 sets legally binding emission reduction targets, and requires the government to make plans to achieve these. It also recommends establishing an independent climate body to provide expert advice and hold the government to account.
As young people concerned about our future, Generation Zero reached the same conclusion as Dr Wright and we have already set about developing a similar climate law for New Zealand. Our proposal, the Zero Carbon Act, was launched in April this year.
The Zero Carbon Act will set a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and require the development of policy plans to meet five yearly "carbon budgets". Dr Wright describes these budgets as "stepping stones" towards the larger goal. Like the UK model, the Zero Carbon Act will establish an independent Climate Commission, and require the government to make plans and risk assessments around adapting to the effects of climate change.
The UK’s emissions reductions accelerated with the introduction of the Climate Change Act, and have fallen 28 percent since 2008. New Zealand’s emissions are heading in the opposite direction.
Net greenhouse gas emissions in C02-eq from 1990-2015. Photo: Source: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
The UK’s approach has been adopted by at least nine other countries, plus numerous states in Australia, Canada, and the US. The state of Victoria (Australia) recently introduced a UK-style law to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, while Sweden’s new law aims for 2045.
We agree with Dr Wright that the near unanimous cross-party support for the UK’s Climate Change Act was and is instrumental to its success.
There is every reason this could happen in New Zealand. The Zero Carbon Act has now been officially endorsed by the Young Nats, Young Labour, the Young Greens and the Young Māori Party, and aligns with all of Dr Wright’s recommendations in her report to Parliament today.
If our elected representatives want to do the right thing for young New Zealanders – for all New Zealanders – the choice is clear. We’re calling for all parties to come together and take the Zero Carbon Act forward after the upcoming election.
This is the law we need to put New Zealand on a pathway to a zero carbon future. And now is the time.
James Young-Drew is a member of Generation Zero and policy lead for the Zero Carbon Act. He currently works as a solicitor in Wellington and has studied climate change law in Denmark.