What is climate action

About climate change

Climate change is generally recognised as one of the biggest issues facing the planet and humankind today.

Activities like burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), cutting down forests and intensifying animal agriculture are releasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into our atmosphere. These GHG emissions act like a blanket and trap heat from the sun in our atmosphere, often referred to as the ‘greenhouse effect’, which warms our planet.

To avoid the irreversible impacts of climate change we need to keep that warming under 1.5°C and cut GHG emissions by 50% by 2030. In reality, scientists say that without coordinated global action we are heading towards a 3°C increase.

The situation in Aotearoa New Zealand

Although Aotearoa New Zealand only contributes around 0.2% of the world's total GHG emissions, our gross emissions per capita make us the fifth highest emitter among developed countries. The impacts of climate change on our country include rising seas, melting glaciers, and more extreme weather conditions.

The Ministry for the Environment regularly publishes our emissions profile. The most recent findings show:

- Between 1990 and 2019, NZ gross GHG emissions increased by about 25%.
- Agriculture and energy (including road transport) are the two sectors with the largest contributions to NZ gross GHG emissions.
- NZ has a relatively high proportion of methane and nitrous oxide, and a lower share of carbon dioxide. This is unique compared to other countries, due to the majority of our electricity being generated from renewable sources, and a strong agriculture sector.
- However, CO₂ emissions have grown faster than any other GHG since 1990 (2.5% growth per annum), predominantly due to increasing road-transport emissions.
- Energy use is closely related to the level of economic activity.

Aotearoa New Zealand is being impacted by global warming. The latest Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in February 2022 notes that trends include further warming and sea-level rise, more hot days and heatwaves, less snow, more rainfall in the south, less rainfall in the north, and more extreme fire risk in the east. Collectively, these changes impact our natural world and human infrastructure and systems, including food production.

Taking climate action

Addressing the challenge of climate change will take concerted action by international bodies, national and regional government, businesses, community groups and individuals.

National governments will play a key role in establishing the framework for effective action. The right mix of policies, financial incentives, infrastructure development and generally a supportive environment which will enable and incentivise businesses to innovate and invest.

In New Zealand, the framework for climate action includes:

- The 'Zero Carbon Act', passed in 2019, established critical components, including the Climate Change Commission, emission targets and the concept of emission budgets and national emission reduction plans.
- The climate-related disclosures legislation, passed in October 2021, requires 200 of the largest financial market participants to disclose information about the risks and opportunities that climate change presents to their business.
- Changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme to make it fit for purpose in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- The proposed Climate Change Adaptation Act, which will address complex issues associated with managed retreat and funding and financing adaptation.
- Other initiatives like the Carbon Neutral Government Programme, and emission reduction support funds, such as the Low Emission Transport Fund.

The business community also has a critical role. All sectors and sizes of business must be engaged in climate action if we are to stand any chance of meeting our international commitments, especially to make the rapid progress required by 2030.

More about the role of business here.