The government has announced the members of the interim climate change committee, which will begin work on how New Zealand will transition to a net zero emissions economy by 2050.
“We need work to start now on how things like agriculture might enter into the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZETS), and we need planning now for the transition to 100% renewable electricity generation by 2035,” Minister for Climate Change James Shaw said.
Shaw said the interim committee will work until an independent climate change commission under the Zero Carbon Act has been set up in May next year.
“The interim committee will consult with stakeholders and hand over its work and analysis to the climate change commission,” he said.
The committee will be led by former CEO and managing director of infrastructure firm Opus International Consultants David Prentice, as interim committee chair, and Kaiwhakahaere of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Lisa Tumahai as deputy chair.
The other committee members include: Harry Clark, a New Zealand expert on agricultural greenhouse gas research; Keith Turner, former CEO of Meridian and professional director; Jan Wright, former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment; and Suzi Kerr, an internationally renowned expert in the economics of climate change policy and emissions trading.
“If we want to help lead the world towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, we must create a moral mandate underpinned by decisive action at home to reduce our own emissions,” Shaw added. “Setting up the interim climate change committee is a great step in that direction.”
