Portfolio: Climate Change Issues

Guardian criticism a reality check on climate change policy

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:01:25 +1300

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Criticism in today's Guardian is a reminder of the risk to New Zealand of not taking climate change seriously and ensuring our actions match our words, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith sa...

Govt welcomes report on ETS costs

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:54:40 +1300

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

A report on the amended Emissions Trading Scheme released today by the Sustainability Council shows the changes will more than half the costs for Kiwi households and businesses, Minister for Climate C...

Goodbye Nanny State; Hello Green Economy

beehive.govt.nz — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:07:04 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

The Government's environmental agenda is about rolling back Nanny State regulations and achieving better environmental outcomes through financial incentives, says Environment & Climate Change Mini...

First reading, Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:47:21 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Mr Speaker, I move that the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill now be read a first time. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the Bill be referred to the &nb...

Improved ETS will better protect jobs & environment

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:39:52 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

The Government today introduced a Bill to the House that will make the emissions trading scheme workable and affordable and ensure the New Zealand economy and jobs are not put at risk. Minister for Cl...

NZ pushes for Global Alliance on agricultural emissions

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:37:54 +1200

Tim Groser | Prime Minister

Prime Minister John Key says the New Zealand Government is pushing for a Global Alliance to research how to cut world-wide greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Mr Key has been participating with...

Groser to New York for climate change meetings

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:57:55 +1200

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser leaves for New York today to attend a series of climate change meetings. Mr Groser will attend the informal Greenland Dialogue with a core grou...

Revised ETS balances NZ’s environment & economy

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:06:54 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

The Government, with Maori Party support, will revise the Emissions Trading Scheme to reduce the costs to households and the impact on jobs while ensuring New Zealand takes a responsible approach to t...

Govt welcomes ETS Review Committee report

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:22:09 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith today welcomed the report of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee. "I would like to thank Chairman Peter Dunne and the other members of the sele...

Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:47:38 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Can I open by commending the organisers of this conference for your initiative in helping bring New Zealand and Australian thinking together on climate change and recognising the huge role for busines...

Labour wrong on 2020 costs

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:14:09 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Labour's claims that the Government has exaggerated by tenfold the costs of a 10% to 20% emissions reduction target announced yesterday raises serious questions about the economic literacy of the Oppo...

2020 target balances economy & environment

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:39:01 +1200

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

Climate Change Ministers Nick Smith and Tim Groser today announced an emissions reduction target range of 10% to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. In setting the target the Government has balanced econom...

Bold 2020 target comes with high price

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:03:42 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2020 would cost $17.5 billion, put power prices up by 30% and require the equivalent of seven Clyde Dams being built, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith says. D...

New reports help inform climate change policy

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:25:34 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

New reports released today on the economic and forestry aspects of climate change policy will help inform Government decisions on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target and policy on emissions trading,...

Groser to attend APEC Trade Minister’s Meeting

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:15:54 +1200

Tim Groser | Trade

Trade Minister and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, departs today to attend the annual APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting in Singapore. "This is one of the biggest Asia Pacific tr...

Govt consults public on 2020 emissions target

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:14:31 +1200

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

The Government today began a process of public consultation on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target with a public meeting in Wellington tonight. “Climate change is a very difficult issue in t...

Public consultation for 2020 target announced

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:42:05 +1200

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

The Government today announced it would be holding public meetings, meetings with business groups, and hui on New Zealand's 2020 greenhouse gas emissions target next month. "The issue of New Zealand's...

Groser seeks progress on trade, international climate change

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:16:00 +1200

Tim Groser | Trade

Trade Minister and Associate Minister for Climate Change (International Negotiations) Tim Groser will join Ministers from over 40 countries at an annual OECD meeting as part of his travel to Paris, Co...

Bill to amend ETS forestry timing

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:17:45 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

The Government today introduced a bill into the House amending technical aspects of the timing of the emissions trading scheme relating to forestry. "The bill delays reporting requirements under the E...

Economic analysis supports modified ETS

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:26:39 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

A joint report by economic consultants NZIER and Infometrics concludes that a modified emissions trading scheme is the best way forward for New Zealand on climate change policy. "This report is a usef...

Opening address to the New Zealand Climate Change Centre Conference in Wellington

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:36:44 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Introduction Good morning and thank you for the introduction. I would like to offer my thanks to the New Zealand Climate Change Centre for organising this conference, for the leadership shown by all...

Adapting the International Trade Regime to New Challenges: Climate Change

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:41:24 +1200

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

First, I would like to pay tribute to the International Policy Council - I believe the IPC is the premier, policy-oriented think tank in the world on the relationship between agriculture and trade. I ...

Groser to meet US Trade Representative in Washington

beehive.govt.nz — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:56:18 +1200

Tim Groser | Trade

Minister of Trade and Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, will meet with members of the new US Administration including US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, and the US Special Envo...

Groser to Austria for International Policy Council

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:55:10 +1200

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, leaves for Salzburg, Austria, tomorrow where he will deliver a keynote address on climate change, trade and agriculture to the International F...

Australian officials to brief Select Committee

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:45:42 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Australian Government officials will brief the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee next Monday on the Australian Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith ...

Government cautious over NZ’s Kyoto surplus

beehive.govt.nz — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:33:54 +1200

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

New Zealand is now expected to exceed its Kyoto target by 9.6 million tonnes – a surplus worth an estimated $241 million, Climate Change Minister Nick Smith announced today. Dr Smith today re...

Next round of UN climate change negotiations to begin in Bonn

beehive.govt.nz — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:37:22 +1300

Tim Groser | Climate Change Issues

New Zealand will join the next round of United Nations negotiations on a future international climate change agreement in Bonn, Germany, from 29 March to 8 April, says Minister for Climate Change Issu...

Australia and New Zealand Strengthen Climate Change Cooperation

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:41:48 +1300

Nick Smith | Climate Change Issues

Australian Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, and New Zealand Minister for Climate Change Issues, Dr Nick Smith, met in Canberra today to discuss climate change and water issue...

Submissions on draft ETS forestry allocation plan extended

beehive.govt.nz — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:38:34 +1300

David Carter | Forestry

The Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith and the Minister of Forestry David Carter today announced an extension to the closing date for submissions on the draft forestry allocation plan under...

Government welcomes arrival of electric cars

beehive.govt.nz — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:36:14 +1300

Nick Smith | Environment

Environment and Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the announcement that electric cars would be commercially available in New Zealand. "This is the beginning of an exciti...