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Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act

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Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019
New Zealand Parliament
Royal assent13 November 2019
Legislative history
Introduced byJames Shaw[1]
First reading21 May 2019[1]
Second reading5 November 2019[1]
Third reading7 November 2019[2]

The Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand that amends the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to provide a framework for New Zealand to develop and implement climate change policies in support of the Paris Agreement.

Legislative features

The Act 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 first nationally determined contribution (NDC) was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. In 2021, the NDC was increased to a 50 percent reduction below 2005 levels by 2030.[3] Key provisions of the Zero Carbon Act include establishing a Climate Change Commission, requiring the government to set five year emission budgets, requiring the development of an emission reduction plan and establishing a target to reduce net carbon emissions (except biogenic methane) to zero and biogenic methane emissions by 24-47% (from a 2017 baseline) by 2050.[4] Unlike the NDC under the Paris Agreement which can be met with offshore mitigation (offsetting), the carbon budgets under the Act must be met via domestic action.[5]


History

Minister for Climate Change Issues and Green Party leader James Shaw introduced the Zero Carbon bill into Parliament on 8 May 2019.[6] The opposition National Party supported it at its first reading, while expressing concerns about its methane targets, and the bill passed its first reading on 21 May 2019.[7][8] It passed its second reading on 5 November 2019.[1]

The bill passed its third and final reading on 7 November 2019 unanimously. David Seymour of the ACT New Zealand party was opposed to the bill and intended to vote against it, but missed the vote.[9] It received royal assent on 13 November 2019.[1] The National Party said that they opposed the 24–47 per cent methane reduction target[10] and that they would remove the methane target[11] when they next form a government.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b Tibshraeny, Jenée (7 November 2019). "James Shaw's Zero Carbon Bill passes with near-unanimous support, however National commits to making tweaks if elected into government". Interest.co.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Govt increases contribution to global climate target". The Beehive. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill 2019 (136-1) (Hon James Shaw)". New Zealand Parliament. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Aotearoa sets course to net-zero with first three emissions budgets". The Beehive. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  6. ^ Ardern, Jacinda (8 May 2019). "Landmark climate change bill goes to Parliament". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  7. ^ Tyson, Jessica (22 May 2019). "Zero Carbon Bill passes first reading". Māori Television. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  8. ^ Cooke, Henry (21 May 2019). "National supports climate change bill through first reading". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  9. ^ Cooke, Henry (7 October 2021). "ACT misses climate vote, allowing bill through unanimously". Stuff. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  10. ^ Young, Audrey (7 November 2019). "Zero Carbon Bill passes with almost unanimous support in Parliament". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  11. ^ Cooke, Henry (7 November 2019). "Zero Carbon Bill passes with near-unanimous support, setting climate change targets into law". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
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