Climate change is arguably the biggest emergency we face, and your chance to have a say on government strategies runs out tomorrow, Sunday 28 March.

Climate change is arguably the biggest emergency we face. On a per capita basis, Aotearoa New Zealand’s carbon footprint is too large.  We have the fifth highest per capita emissions amongst all the OECD countries.

On January 31st this year, the Climate Change Commission He Pou a Rangi released its draft advice to Government on the first three emissions budgets for Aotearoa New Zealand, and the policies the Government needs to implement to reduce emissions. The advice is open for public consultation until tomorrow Sunday March 28th – this is our last chance to have our say.

After tomorrow, the Climate Change Commission will make changes based on the feedback received, then release its final advice in May. The Government then has until the end of this year to respond to the recommendations.

“In our vision of the future, Aotearoa has a circular economy and generates very little waste.” - Climate Change Commission (2021) Draft Advice, p.9.

The Commission’s report states that farming livestock makes up the majority of agricultural emissions. 

The commission’s advice on reducing emissions devotes a chapter to the opportunities and challenges facing the agriculture sector.

“Agriculture contributes significantly to the Aotearoa economy, communities and culture. Farming livestock makes up the majority of agricultural emissions, with smaller contributions from horticulture and cropping. 

“Agriculture emits the majority of biogenic methane emissions in Aotearoa and also makes a significant contribution to long-lived gas emissions.”

The report explores the sources of livestock emissions and opportunities for reducing these, including farm management and new technologies.

Another chapter in the report is devoted to the opportunities and challenges with regard to waste produced and how we deal with it.

“The majority of waste emissions are from biogenic methane, with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide also being generated from composting, incineration and wastewater treatment. 

“There are practices and technologies available to reduce the amount of waste and associated emissions.” 

Many organisations have come out urging the Government to set binding waste reduction targets in the Waste Strategy and the Waste Minimisation Act for all waste streams, organic and inorganic.

This includes single use plastics and packaging, e-waste, textile, construction and demolition waste.

In fact, plastics were not included in the carbon emissions section or associated recommendations from the Commission.

The report is 188 pages long, but if you don’t have time to wade through every page, there is an excellent summary of the report produced by School Strike 4 Climate NZ. Find Part One of their summary here and Part Two here.

To make a submission, visit the Climate Change Commission’s submission page here. You don’t need to fill out every question, you can pick the parts that are important to you.