Government ‘strongly committed’ to cutting NZ’s footprint, Climate Minister Simon Watts says
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Despite the Government axing a number of carbon-cutting initiatives, Climate Minister Simon Watts says there’s a “strong commitment” to meet the country’s emissions targets.
By the middle of the year, Cabinet will select the policies it will use to knock between 21 and 44 million tonnes of carbon off country’s footprint out to 2030, he said.
During last year’s campaign, the National Party promised to achieve a series of three climate targets – carbon “budgets” to 2025, 2030 and 2035. The pledge was upheld through coalition talks.
In an interview with Stuff, Watts agreed that by scrapping Labour-era policies, his Government had widened the gulf between likely emissions and climate targets.
“The coalition have signed up and are committed to those targets, so we need to identify other options to close that gap. It’s as simple as that.”
Watts disputed that his Cabinet colleagues are uncommitted to climate action. His fellow ministers had signed pledges, as part of the UN climate summit late last year, to transition away from fossil fuels and boost renewable energy, promote sustainable farming, and protect against climate-related health harm.
“Those are proof in the pudding,” he said.
Under the Zero Carbon Act, Watts must deliver a detailed plan for 2026-2030, with the estimated climate impact of each policy, before the end of the year.
But because the minister intends to ask the public for feedback on a draft version, Cabinet will need to decide on policies by mid-year.
“It’s not long. I’m under no illusion about that either,” Watts said. “It’s going to be difficult but we have to do it… My colleagues are up for that challenge.”
In December, the Government scrapped the Clean Car Discount – a scheme making EVs cheaper and gas guzzlers more expensive – but had retained its sister policy. The Clean Car Standard requires car importers to balance the number of gas guzzlers brought into the country with lower-emitting vehicles, or face a penalty.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said in a statement the standard is “is a key tool” to reduce emissions. It will be reviewed, as the law requires, this year.
In addition, the Government planned to build 10,000 EV chargers between now and 2030. A scarcity of chargers is a “key blocker” to electric car uptake, Watts said.
The Government also planned to cut regulation on new renewable electricity projects and would continue to invest in tools to cut farming emissions, the minister told Stuff.
The minister’s climate plan will benefit from two major deals signed by the previous Government. The NZ Steel deal will prevent an estimated 3.2 million tonnes of emissions between 2026 and 2030. Fonterra deal will prevent 1.2 million tonnes.
The National Party criticised the arrangements to co-fund the purchase of green equipment – describing it as “corporate welfare”. Although Watts confirmed the agreed funding will stay in place, he “didn’t envisage” making new deals.
Will his Government reap the benefits of previous investment while not paying it forward? “It signals a change in which we’re going to achieve the outcomes. This coalition Government is going to get to the destination in a different way.”
Watts plans to meet leaders of high-emitting companies and industries to discuss ways to drive decarbonisation.
“It’s not always Government writing a cheque that is the way that those things can be delivered. There’s regulation and other aspects that can either be added or removed that can allow that stuff to happen more quickly.”
In addition, Watts also asked officials to go through the policies recommended by the Climate Change Commission late last year “with a fine tooth comb”.
Asked what the Government would do if its preferred policies fell short of the cuts required to 2030, Watts said: “If there’s a gap, we have to identify other options to close the gap – no different to our fiscal plan.”