The commission's analysis also showed that delaying key actions could result in GDP falling by 2.3% in 2050
The Climate Change Commission has released an independent draft advice outlining the policy direction the Commission recommends the government should take to stay on track to achieve the 2026-2030 emissions budget.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw thanked the commission for its latest stock take of the highest priority actions to take New Zealand to net zero by 2050. He said there was considerable alignment with much of the government's work already underway and that schemes like the clean car discount were already making a difference.
Shaw noted that the advice shows many more hurdles to jump but highlights the solid foundations laid by the government's landmark Emissions Reduction plan.
"It is encouraging the Emissions Reduction Plan has laid the foundations to bring about transformative change. However, true climate progress can't be just about setting targets, we have to step up our actions with much greater urgency and scale if we are to achieve a net zero future," Shaw said.
Shaw stressed the importance of not relying too heavily on carbon removals from forests to do all the heavy lifting and that existing work decarbonizing the state sector and industrial processes could make a difference.
The Commission's analysis also showed that delaying key actions, such as transitioning to electric vehicles, could result in GDP falling by 2.3% in 2050. Shaw emphasized that the Commission's data "makes it crystal clear that the cost of inaction is much more than that of action."
Shaw said that the Emissions Reduction Plan had laid the foundations to bring about transformative change, but "multiple wins" were needed to get to net zero. He emphasised that any lag in policy implementation could significantly impact New Zealand's ability to meet Emissions Budgets 2 and 3, making the case to act more imperative than ever.
"When the Commission released its first emissions plan advice in 2021, it concluded there were achievable, affordable and acceptable pathways for Aotearoa to reach net zero by 2050. It is encouraging to note that this is still the case," Shaw said.
