Low-emissions economy

This inquiry investigated the challenges of, and identified opportunities for, reducing New Zealand’s emissions, in the context of an ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Read our brief from the Government here.

The Commission engaged with a large and diverse group interested in climate change and mitigation policy. We completed over 120 engagement meetings (including overseas), 34 conferences/events and received 403 submissions. Modelling work was also undertaken by a consortium of Vivid Economics, Concept Consulting and Motu Economic and Public Policy Research of different transition pathways to a low-emissions economy, examining respective impacts and outcomes.

 The Government needs to prioritise the following actions to achieve the above shifts at the right scale and pace:

• Establish a comprehensive and durable climate change policy framework, including separate legislated long-term targets for short- and long-lived gases; a series of successive emissions budgets; and an independent Climate Change Commission;
• Reform the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme and apply some form of emissions pricing to methane from agriculture and waste; 
• Devote significantly more resources to low-emissions innovation and technology to account for the long timeframes involved in bringing innovative ideas to fruition.

Our final report also recommended a suite of other policy reforms to help drive the transition. These include introducing emissions standards for newly registered vehicles, a feebate scheme to accelerate the uptake of EVs, and mandatory climate-related financial disclosures.