[UNCLASSIFIED]
OIA Ref: 2021-046
Matthew Hooton
[FYI request #16073 email]
9 August 2021
Official Information Act Request Response
Kia ora Matthew
I refer to your Official Information Act (OIA) request of 14 July 2021 for the following:
“Under the OIA, please provide me with all advice received by the Commission from
MFAT and other sources on the likely effects of New Zealand’s climate change policies on
the climate change policies of other countries, especially the top 20 global emitters; and
what consideration the Commission gave to this matter before preparing its draft and
final advice this year.”
Please find attached the information within scope of this request. This consists of one letter received in
March 2021 from the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference Unit in response to the
Commission’s public release of its draft advice to Government.
As per sections 5M(g) and 5ZC(2)(b)(x) of the Climate Change Response Act, in preparing its advice the
Commission took into account the actions and plans to respond to climate change of parties to the Paris
Agreement or to the Convention. More information on these considerations appears in Chapter 2 of the
Supporting Evidence for
Ināia Tonu nei at:
https://bit.ly/3ipioBL.
While the Commission did consider the Paris Agreement and Convention parties’ actions and plans, it did
not not consider the effects of New Zealand’s climate change policies on those countries’ policies. It is the
responsibility of the Government of the day to set New Zealand’s climate change policies. Therefore, the
Government is best placed to assess the potential impacts of New Zealand’s climate change policies on
other countries.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about
how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
[UNCLASSIFIED]
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Please note that the Commission has a policy to proactively release OIA responses to help others have
access to more information. Consequently, this letter will be published on our website with your name and
contact details redacted to protect your privacy.
Ngā mihi
Astrid Nunns
General Manager, Strategy, Planning and Engagement
Climate Change Commission
[UNCLASSIFIED]
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1 0ET
www.ukcop26.org
Climate Change Commission Secretariat
Level 21, 1 Wil is Street
Wel ington 6011
PO Box 24448
Wel ington 6142
25 March 2021
Dear Colleagues,
The United Kingdom’s COP26 Unit welcomes this first package of ambitious advice put
forward by New Zealand’s Climate Change Commission. This initial report presents a
comprehensive and rigorous consideration of the actions required to reach net zero emissions by
2050. The act of seeking independent expert guidance that fol ows the best available science is
indicative of New Zealand’s progressive track record on climate action and sets a strong example for
others to fol ow. Added to this, inviting stakeholder input through consultation increases the
robustness and transparency of the advice. This approach should be applauded. As an international
community, we must do al we can to bring along whole societies if we are to meet our climate goals.
In response to this invitation, the UK’s COP26 Unit would like to highlight some key areas from the
advice which New Zealand could fol ow to further demonstrate continued international climate
leadership as we look ahead to COP26 in November and beyond.
Revising and aligning New Zealand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with the 1.5°C
temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. This action must be replicated by al parties as we seek
to close the emissions gap. As the Commission’s advice notes, current international efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions do not go far enough towards this end. Ahead of COP26, the UK is urging
al countries - large and smal , developed and developing - to communicate NDCs that reflect highest
possible ambition in line with the Paris temperature goal. In setting a National y Determined
Contribution to reduce al greenhouse gases emissions by as close as possible to 70% below 2005
gross emissions levels by 2030, New Zealand would be sending a strong statement of intent to the
international community ahead of COP26 and cement its reputation as a climate leader - both in the
Pacific and on the global stage.
Setting ambitious domestic near-term targets towards achieving net zero. The UK and New
Zealand similarly seek independent and expert advice to help set periodic legal y-binding carbon
budgets to limit domestic emissions to meet the long-term goal of bringing greenhouse gas emissions
to net zero by 2050. In legislating for these carbon budgets, our governments chart a clear direction
for businesses, civil society and others to fol ow. It is therefore imperative that these domestic targets
set fair and ambitious trajectories to promote the transition to net zero. We recognise that a review of
New Zealand’s split-gas approach is beyond the remit of this first package of advice. The UK’s COP26
Unit nonetheless encourages New Zealand to take an economy-wide and all-greenhouse gas
approach in its net zero target. Given New Zealand’s status, the international community wil look to
the example that it sets. New Zealand’s split-gas approach is already being cited by some countries as
a reason for excluding certain gases when considering their own long-term targets, which is clearly
against our shared goals around delivering the ambition set out in the Paris Agreement.
Sharing expertise towards shared challenges. New Zealand has made considerable achievements
in responding to the chal enges posed by climate change. The Commission’s report rightly
underscores the value of New Zealand’s international contributions in sharing its experience and
expertise in areas such as efficient agricultural production, and its leadership of the Global Research
Al iance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. New Zealand has an opportunity to lead the world in
reducing agricultural emissions and has already demonstrated its ability to advance agricultural
technology and improve efficiency. We aim to make COP26 an opportunity for countries to champion
and share knowledge such as this in order to help others tackle this issue. As the UK and its farmers
similarly seek solutions to meet the chal enges posed by land use change, improving agricultural
innovation and reducing agricultural emissions at large, we value our close partnership with New
Zealand in this area.
New Zealand also has an opportunity to lead the way in deploying low carbon hydrogen solutions,
especial y in heavy transportation. Further to this, the Commission’s report rightly highlights the key
role that electric vehicles wil play in reducing transport emissions and the need for widespread
adoption of EVs. We would welcome the opportunity to share our own experience in both of these
areas fol owing the UK Government having announced in November 2020 the end of the sale of new
petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030 and the UK Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green
Industrial Revolution having underscored how the UK is investigating and expanding the use of
hydrogen.
Collaboration on climate change is crucial. The chal enges posed in reducing al greenhouse gas
emissions from sectors such as agriculture, transport, and decarbonising industry and homes
transcend national boundaries. Meeting these chal enges wil require strong leadership from al
countries. The UK welcomes New Zealand’s initiative and leadership in inviting this consultation, and
looks forward to working together on the road to COP26.
Yours sincerely,
The United Kingdom’s COP26 Unit
