Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act


The Climate Change Response Amendment Bill is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand that seeks to provide a framework for New Zealand to develop and implement climate change policies in support of the Paris Agreement. The Bill passed its first reading on 21 May 2019 and its second reading on 5 November. It passed its third and final reading on 7 November near-unanimously, and received royal assent on 13 November 2019.

Legislative features

The Climate Change Response Amendment Bill amends the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to provide a framework for New Zealand to develop and implement climate change policies that contribute to global efforts under the Paris Agreement to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. New Zealand ratified the Paris Agreement in October 2015. Its nationally determined contribution is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. This target is equivalent to 11 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030. Key provisions of the Zero Carbon Bill including consulting with Māori iwi and leadership bodies under the obligations of the Treaty of Waitangi, establishing a Climate Change Commission, and setting a target to reduce net carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

History

Minister for Climate Change Issues and Green Party leader James Shaw introduced the Zero Carbon bill into Parliament on 8 May 2019. The Zero Carbon Bill passed its first reading on 22 May 2019. The opposition National Party supported the Zero Carbon bill while expressing concerns about its methane targets.
The bill passed in its second reading on 5 November 2019.
The bill passed in its third and final reading on 7 November 2019 with support from all MPs except David Seymour. National said that they would tweak the bill if they are re-elected to government.