research climate change in new zealand

New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute

Find out how the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute got started and how it works.

Prestigious ranking recognises thought leadership

The New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute has been identified as globally influential by the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. Published by the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, this prestigious report is a closely watched annual survey of the work of over 6,000 international think tanks.

The latest report ranked the Institute as one of the world’s top 50 environment policy think tanks—a result attained consistently over the last decade.

This shows that the research and policy advice being generated at the University is among the best anywhere, and is of particular relevance to the Asia–Pacific region.

Our beginnings

The New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute (NZCCRI) was established in 2008 by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington to develop interdisciplinary research into all aspects of climate change. The Institute is a founding member of the New Zealand Climate Change Centre .

How we work

We are a small team of researchers and policy thinkers who work at the interface between climate change science and the decisions people have to make about climate change.

We do high-quality academic research into climate change issues, and we aim to choose research topics of real interest to decision-makers in New Zealand and elsewhere. We work with world-class researchers to better understand and inform the decisions people are facing regarding climate change.

Bridging natural and social science

We develop, disseminate, and discuss interdisciplinary climate change research, with a particular emphasis on work that spans the natural and social sciences. To do this, we draw on the skills and experience of researchers in New Zealand and abroad to produce collaborative research that is of international scholarly significance and that has relevance to domestic and international policy.

Helping to guide policy

We work closely with New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes, universities, and other research organisations to help people govern, anticipate, mitigate, and adapt to climate change.

Our aim is to produce high-quality, decision-relevant research on climate change, and to deliver this to private and public sector decision makers.

How climate change made the melting of New Zealand’s glaciers 10 times more likely

Research Fellow in the Antarctic Research Centre, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Disclosure statement

Lauren Vargo receives funding from a NIWA subcontract to VUW to undertake Structure From Motion work using the NIWA EOSS photo archive.

Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington provides funding as a member of The Conversation NZ.

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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Glaciers around the world are melting — and for the first time, we can now directly attribute annual ice loss to climate change.

We analysed two years in which glaciers in New Zealand melted the most in at least four decades: 2011 and 2018. Both years were characterised by warmer than average temperatures of the air and the surface of the ocean, especially during summer.

Our research , published today, shows climate change made the glacial melt that happened during the summer of 2018 at least ten times more likely.

As the Earth continues to warm, we expect an even stronger human fingerprint on extreme glacier mass loss in the coming decades.

Read more: A bird’s eye view of New Zealand's changing glaciers

Extreme glacier melt

During the 2018 summer, the Tasman Sea marine heatwave resulted in the warmest sea surface temperatures around New Zealand on record — up to 2°C above average.

Research shows these record sea surface temperatures were almost certainly due to the influence of climate change.

The results of our work show climate change made the high melt in 2011 at least six times more likely, and in 2018, it was at least ten times more likely.

These likelihoods are changing because global average temperatures, including in New Zealand, are now about 1°C above pre-industrial levels, confirming a connection between greenhouse gas emissions and high annual ice loss.

Changing New Zealand glaciers

We use several methods to track changes in New Zealand glaciers.

First, the end-of-summer snowline survey began in 1977. It involves taking photographs of over 50 glaciers in the Southern Alps every March.

From these images, we calculate the snowline elevation (the lowest elevation of snow on the glacier) to determine the glacier’s health . The less snow there is left on a glacier at the end of summer, the more ice the glacier has lost.

The second method is our annual measurement of a glacier’s mass balance — the total gain or loss of ice from a glacier over a year. These measurements require trips to the glacier each year to measure snow accumulation, and snow and ice melt. Mass balance is measured for only two glaciers in the Southern Alps, Brewster Glacier (since 2005) and Rolleston Glacier (since 2010).

Both methods show New Zealand glaciers lost more ice in 2011 and 2018 than during earlier years since the start of the snowline surveys in 1977.

Images taken during the end-of-summer snowline survey show how the amount of white snow at high elevations on Brewster Glacier decreases over time, compared to darker, bluer ice at lower elevations.

Read more: Why long-term environmental observations are crucial for New Zealand's water security challenges

Attributing extreme melt

Earlier research has quantified the human influence on extreme climate events such as heatwaves , extreme rainfall and droughts . We combined the established method of calculating the impact of climate change on extreme events with models of glacier mass balance. In this way, we could determine whether or not climate change has influenced extreme glacier melt.

This is the first study to attribute annual glacier melt to climate change, and only the second to directly link glacier melt to climate change . With multiple studies in agreement, we can be more confident there is a link between human activity and glacier melt.

This confidence is especially important for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ) reports, which use findings like ours to inform policymakers.

Recent research shows New Zealand glaciers will lose about 80% of area and volume between 2015 and the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at current rates. Glaciers in New Zealand are important for tourism, alpine sports and as a water resource.

Glacial retreat is accelerating globally, especially in the past decade. Research shows by 2090, the water runoff from glaciers will decrease by up to 10% in regions including central Asia and the Andes, raising major concerns over the sustainability of water resources where they are already limited.

The next step in our work is to calculate the influence of climate change on extreme melt for glaciers around the world. Ultimately, we hope this will contribute to evidence-based decisions on climate policy and convince people to take stronger action to curb climate change.

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• Attribution science
• Glacial retreat

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New Research Report—Developing New Zealand Blue Carbon Projects

September 03, 2024 | Auckland, New Zealand

A comprehensive research report into coastal wetland blue carbon has identified a range of actions that can help accelerate coastal wetland restoration in New Zealand.

The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand (TNC NZ) today released the Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon Policy Research in Aotearoa report —a research report commissioned by TNC NZ and Ministry for the Environment (MfE) intended to explore the policy, legal and market conditions that would be needed to enable coastal wetlands projects to result in blue carbon credits.

“Blue carbon markets are relatively new compared with markets for carbon sequestration on land, such as tree planting, but they are expected to have great potential as part of the global demand for nature-based pathways to address climate change,” said Abbie Reynolds, country director, TNC NZ.

Quote : Abbie Reynolds

Coastal communities can reap benefits from healthy coastal wetlands through increased resilience, enhanced biodiversity, cleaner water and opportunities for eco-tourism.

"We’re excited to be working in this area and exploring the role that investing in nature-based solutions via carbon credits can play to avert the climate crisis. Other solutions include reducing emissions, protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, developing and implementing innovative technological solutions, and investing in and deploying renewable energy to deliver the majority of the mitigation needed.”

Revenue from blue carbon credits could also help support landowners at restoration sites.

“Coastal communities can reap benefits from healthy coastal wetlands through increased resilience, enhanced biodiversity, cleaner water and opportunities for eco-tourism. They can also enjoy the social and cultural benefits from living in a healthy functioning ecosystem.”

The report also recommends ways to address the existing policy, regulatory and legal complexities so that New Zealand projects could participate in carbon markets at scale. The report was authored by Jacobs, Environmental Accounting Services, Anderson Lloyd and Conservation International.

The authors identified the following priority recommendations:

• Develop a national blue carbon roadmap or strategy, with suggested pathways for enabling blue carbon projects at scale.
• A Māori-led study into the barriers, opportunities and benefits of blue carbon for Māori.
• Government and Māori to develop clear guidance and/or regulatory tools to grant carbon rights in the coastal marine area.
• Government to create an enabling environment for voluntary markets to operate in Aotearoa New Zealand, including Paris Agreement Article 6 policy clarity.

The report explored the implications of including blue carbon in New Zealand’s GHG inventory and Nationally Determined Contributions and whether the best place for these projects would be voluntary markets.

Read the Report

Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon Policy Research in Aotearoa, Sept. 2024

It also investigated how changing the regulatory environment could impact on the development of blue carbon projects and what we can learn from established blue carbon accounting schemes overseas. The research suggested voluntary carbon markets would be a better option for pursuing carbon credits from coastal wetland restoration, compared to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

“Promoting the restoration of coastal wetlands via blue carbon credits can contribute to our collective climate response by helping New Zealand adapt to the impacts of climate change and supporting our communities through the transition,” said Olya Albot, project manager for nature-based solutions at The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Addressing policy barriers and creating an enabling environment has the potential to accelerate pilot projects already underway in New Zealand and support the uptake of blue carbon projects in New Zealand for the international voluntary market, at scale,” Olya Albot said.

More Information

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as coastal wetlands, face threats from rising sea levels and extreme weather events. However, coastal wetlands help mitigate climate change by converting CO₂ emissions into plant biomass, potentially more effectively than forests. Coastal wetlands also help protect communities against storm surge and sea-level rise by providing natural protection.

Six priority research themes around the policy and legal landscape were:

• Greenhouse Gas Inventories and Nationally Determined Contributions
• Carbon markets and trading
• Environmental policy and law
• Coastal land tenure and carbon rights
• Blue carbon schemes and methodologies
• Benefits of blue carbon projects

The report also outlined opportunities and implications of including coastal wetlands in New Zealand’s GHG inventory and NDC, including:

• Creating a more complete inventory, including a more accurate representation of the country’s carbon emissions and sinks;
• The opportunity for New Zealand to lead by example regarding conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems and offer insights for the Pacific region.

More on The Nature Conservancy’s work on blue carbon

Although coastal wetland blue carbon is not included in New Zealand’s national Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, the opportunity to restore coastal wetlands is mentioned in the country’s  Emissions Reduction Plan , as well as in the new  Climate Change Strategy  as nature-based solutions.

Any blue carbon projects would need to demonstrate high integrity and meet independently assured standards such as Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 77 countries and territories (41 by direct conservation impact and 36 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.

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Small Country, Big Climate Agenda: New Zealand’s Approach to Climate and Trade

Photo: Mark Tantrum/Getty Images

Critical Questions by Emily Benson and Elizabeth Duncan

Published August 30, 2022

As international partners increasingly converge on policies that could more effectively leverage trade as a means of combating climate change, New Zealand has emerged as a leader in utilizing trade tools to move necessary environmental policies forward. It has done this through the World Trade Organization (WTO), bilateral free trade agreements, and other multilateral agreements.

Most recently, New Zealand concluded free trade agreement negotiations (FTA) with the European Union that included robust and enforceable climate commitments. Both this agreement and a similar agreement between the United Kingdom and New Zealand established in February include advanced language on sustainability and establish a standard for how trade can be a tool to progress a global climate agenda.

While small in size, New Zealand has an influential presence on the world stage when it comes to the intersection of climate and trade. Climate issues are important to New Zealanders, who have infused climate change considerations throughout policymaking. A recent survey found that 81 percent of New Zealanders are concerned with climate change. New Zealand has taken an all-government approach to sustainability, pursuing a trade policy with a focus on sustainable and inclusive growth with active participation from the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori, which has strong ties to the land and advocates for environmentally sound policies. The “Trade for All” agenda, established in 2018, focuses on increasing public engagement by expanding trade policy consultations with key stakeholders, creating more sustainable economic opportunities, supporting regional integration in the Asia-Pacific region, and advocating for a rules-based international system.

The U.S. approach to international engagement on trade has largely eschewed traditional trade tools and mechanisms, such as tariff liberalization, and therefore makes an FTA like the one signed between New Zealand, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, unlikely in the short term. Nevertheless, the United States and New Zealand are working together on developing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity ( IPEF ), which aims to advance sustainable growth in the region.

Q1: How has New Zealand approached the climate and trade nexus at the WTO?

A1: New Zealand’s comprehensive approach to climate policy and trade is demonstrated in its leadership in climate work on the world stage. New Zealand views the WTO as a forum that can play a central role in increasing sustainability in the global economy. The WTO framework is endowed with mechanisms for accountability, making it an ideal forum for tackling these challenging issues.

When Environmental Goods Agreement ( EGA ) negotiations launched in Geneva in 2014, New Zealand quickly emerged as a key leader. Although EGA negotiations fell apart somewhat abruptly in late 2016, New Zealand’s leadership in Geneva remains highly involved in other trade and environmental conversations. For example, the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions ( TESSD ), which New Zealand cosponsors, is a WTO forum established to further dialogue about achieving a global trading system that protects the environment.  Furthermore, the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability ( ACCTS ), which New Zealand established in 2019 and oversees in partnership with Costa Rica, Fiji, Iceland, and Norway, seeks to leverage trade rules to tackle climate change. One of the explicit goals of the ACCTS, unlike IPEF or TESSD, is to liberalize tariffs on environmental goods. The ACCTS also seeks new commitments on environmental services and binding rules to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.

Beyond the ACCTS, New Zealand has been a leading advocate for fossil fuel subsidy reform. New Zealand issued a joint ministerial statement this past December that recognized the harmful effects of fossil fuel subsidies and outlined the need to phase them out. This statement has 47 cosponsors, and the United States is not one. Many of these same countries are also part of the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform ( FFFSR ), which is an informal group of non-G20 members that works to raise awareness and share knowledge on these issues.

The recent partial success of the 12th WTO ministerial, particularly the fisheries outcome , established historic parameters on subsidies for fishing. This agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, fishing overfished stocks, and fishing in the unregulated high seas. This demonstrates that highly complex policy outcomes with environmental benefits are possible, even at the multilateral level. Therefore, the conclusion of a fisheries deal underscores the potential of the WTO system in effecting greater change at the trade and climate nexus. Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard stated that the success of the fisheries subsidies agreement created a newfound momentum for other environmental initiatives.

Q2: Why is the UK-New Zealand FTA significant in the climate context?

A2: In addition to the multilateral agenda at the WTO, New Zealand is also making tangible progress at the bilateral level. The UK-New Zealand free trade agreement is one of the most environmentally comprehensive deals to date. It contains a thorough environment chapter and sustainability-focused language throughout the deal. Perhaps its most laudable achievement is the creation of a lengthy list of environmental goods with reduced tariffs. The list covers 290 environmental products , from electric vehicles to wind turbines. For scale, this covers nearly five times as many products as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) list of environmental goods.

This deal confirms the importance of other multilateral avenues for advancing climate goals.  The agreement explicitly recognizes the commitments of the Paris Agreement to achieve net-zero emissions and the commitments of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) to phase out “inefficient subsidies” for all fossil fuels. New Zealand also included the importance of creating a platform to cooperate on issues of relevance to the Māori, reinforcing the broader COP26 theme of protecting indigenous rights. The agreement uses specific Māori language throughout, such as “kaitiakitanga” (guardianship and protection) and “mauri” (vitality of a being), which are often used to describe the environment.

Through the agreement, the parties also aim to facilitate greater international cooperation in the global transition to a low-carbon economy. This includes policy provisions, such as promoting a carbon price as an effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and taking steps to remove harmful fossil fuel subsidies. The European Union, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom each have a domestic price on carbon, which underscores the significantly different approach the United States has taken, which tends to favor incentives over regulation.

Beyond the environmental chapter, the agreement has integrated sustainability as a core element throughout. For example, there are references to sustainable procurement, sustainable finance, and intellectual property concerns with clean technologies. Interestingly, the agreement omitted investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions, which have been used by investors when a country’s environmental policies harm their company's profits.

Critics argue that, while the agreement contains many groundbreaking sustainability provisions, it is ultimately insufficient in bringing about systemic change at the climate and trade nexus. Moreover, an impact assessment estimated that the FTA would result in a nearly 50 percent increase in transport emissions. It also does not account for how the parties will counteract this consequence or move toward more tangible outcomes when it comes to decarbonizing supply chains themselves. Furthermore, some fear that lower tariffs in the agricultural sector will incentivize carbon-intensive farming practices and undermine attempts at building a more sustainable approach to food production.

Q3: What is novel about the EU-New Zealand FTA?

A3: The EU-New Zealand trade agreement contains a chapter on trade and sustainable development, which covers some of the same provisions as the environment chapter in the UK-New Zealand agreement. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that the agreement includes “unprecedented social and climate commitments.” The deal includes provisions such as commitments to multilateral climate agreements, reforms on fossil fuel subsidies, conservation efforts, and removal of tariffs on environmental goods and services.

The key difference between the EU-New Zealand trade agreement and the UK-New Zealand trade agreement is the strength of the enforceability of these climate provisions. The commitments made in this chapter are legally binding and enforceable through the agreement’s dispute settlement mechanism. For example, the Paris Agreement itself does not have an enforcement mechanism, but through this FTA, the European Union and New Zealand hold each other accountable. This enforcement mechanism includes the possibility of sanctions in the case of a serious violation of the agreement. This is the first time the European Union has included language like this in a trade agreement. The UK-New Zealand does not have this same level of enforcement in its dispute settlement provisions.

“It’s interesting that the EU used the New Zealand FTA as the first [such agreement] to include the binding requirements—it’s not surprising, it’s easiest to reach an agreement with New Zealand because of who New Zealand is,” Yves Melin said , Secretary-Treasurer of the International Bar Association International Trade and Customs Law Committee.

The agreement also includes a unique Sustainable Food Systems Chapter, in which the countries agree to cooperate on issues related to the global food supply. This would create a pathway to exchange information and research as well as enhance cooperation at the international level on topics such as the environmental impacts of food production.

Q4: What does New Zealand's leadership look like in the Asia Pacific?

A4: The Asia-Pacific region has been increasingly affected by climate change. Nearly 70 percent of all natural disasters occur in this region, and the region’s vast coastlines are impacted by rising tides. Therefore, APEC has been looking for opportunities to promote sustainable development in the region.

 In 2021 New Zealand hosted the APEC summit and succeeded in establishing further commitments to climate change in this forum. The Aotearoa Plan of Action outlined the way to achieve goals on numerous issues, ranging from opening markets, innovation, resilience, indigenous empowerment, and climate change. The plan helped cement climate issues on the APEC agenda for the future.

At the APEC summit, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated that New Zealand has not done enough and is arguably “playing catch up." The summit pushed for progress in facilitating the trade of environmental goods and fisheries-related initiatives. Instrumentally, the members accomplished an agreement to stop increasing fossil fuel subsidies, which amounted to nearly $500 billion worth of funds.

Q5: How are the United States and New Zealand working together on climate and trade issues?

A5: New Zealand and the United States have many opportunities to work together to progress on climate and trade issues. However, significant challenges remain. New Zealand is a leader in using renewable energies. Around 40 percent of the share of its total primary energy supply comes from renewable sources. This is much greater than the 12 percent share of primary energy in the United States or the 17 percent in the European Union. The United States aims to diversify into sustainable energy sources. Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act ( IRA ), the world’s single largest investment in combating climate change, which includes many provisions, such as tax credits on solar and green energy industries, to incentivize growth in these industries. However, experts differ on whether certain provisions of the IRA will ultimately contravene core climate objectives by raising costs and slowing the deployment of renewables.

New Zealand and the United States have multilateral opportunities to advance issues at the intersection of climate and trade. The United States and New Zealand recently partnered in the IPEF, a multiparty initiative formally launched in May 2022. One of the key aspects of this new economic arrangement will be to facilitate decarbonization and environmental trade among the 14 participant countries. The CSIS Scholl Chair recently published a report with recommendations on how to deliver a decarbonizing agenda within IPEF.

The United States has signaled a shift in climate policy after passing the IRA. Now, the United States should make additional headway with partners throughout the international realm. In terms of its bilateral relationship with New Zealand, the United States should work more closely to institutionalize mutual commitments to green trade, which the United States can do by reaffirming U.S. leadership within the WTO system. At the WTO, the United States has already joined the TESSD, a plurilateral group of countries convening on green trade issues. In addition to joining the ACCTS, the United States should also join other initiatives alongside New Zealand, including the Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade ( IDP ) and discussions on combating deforestation. Wherever possible, the United States should seek to codify in trade arrangements the obligation to engage in these multilateral environmental discussions within the WTO system.

Overall, the conclusion of far-ranging FTAs with the European Union and the United Kingdom, particularly the signing of the most ambitious agreement on environmental goods, makes it even more important that the United States work towards the conclusion of new trade agreements that could spur green growth and help achieve deeper decarbonization.

Emily Benson is a fellow with the Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Elizabeth Duncan is an intern with the Scholl Chair.

Critical Questions  is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).

© 2022 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. All rights reserved.

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Climate change in New Zealand - statistics & facts

New zealand’s climate targets, consumer sentiment towards climate change, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Average annual surface temperature in New Zealand 2000-2022

People who believe they will be affected by climate hazards in New Zealand 2019-2024

Greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2023, by industry

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Climate summary of main centers in New Zealand 2023

Households and industries carbon dioxide emission volume New Zealand 2020-2023

Annual temperature anomaly New Zealand 1909-2022

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Global overview.

• Basic Statistic Global land and ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2023
• Premium Statistic Global mean sea level change 1993-2023
• Premium Statistic Global number of flood disasters 1990-2022
• Basic Statistic Global historical CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and industry 1750-2022
• Premium Statistic Global cumulative CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land use 1850-2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Global perception of the severity of local climate change effects 2023, by country

Global land and ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2023

Annual anomalies in global land and ocean surface temperature from 1880 to 2023, based on temperature departure (in degrees Celsius)

Global mean sea level change 1993-2023

Mean sea level variation worldwide from 1993 to 2023 (in millimeters)

Global number of flood disasters 1990-2022

Number of flood disasters worldwide from 1990 to 2022

Global historical CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and industry 1750-2022

Historical carbon dioxide emissions from global fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes in selected years from 1750 to 2022 (in billion metric tons)

Global cumulative CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land use 1850-2022, by country

Largest contributors to cumulative carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from fossil fuels, land use, and forestry worldwide from 1850 to 2022 (in billion metric tons)

Global perception of the severity of local climate change effects 2023, by country

Share of respondents who believe climate change has had a severe effect in their locality as of 2023, by country

New Zealand climate figures

• Premium Statistic Climate summary of main centers in New Zealand 2023
• Premium Statistic Average annual surface temperature in New Zealand 2000-2022
• Premium Statistic Annual temperature anomaly New Zealand 1909-2022
• Premium Statistic Monthly temperature anomalies in New Zealand 2022
• Premium Statistic Average annual rainfall anomalies in New Zealand 1990-2023
• Premium Statistic Glacier ice volume in New Zealand 1978-2020

Key climate figures of main centers in New Zealand in 2023

Average annual surface temperature in New Zealand from 2000 to 2022 (in degrees Celsius)

Yearly temperature anomaly in New Zealand from 1909 to 2022 (in degrees Celsius)

Monthly temperature anomalies in New Zealand 2022

Monthly temperature anomalies in New Zealand in 2022 (in degrees Celsius)

Average annual rainfall anomalies in New Zealand 1990-2023

Average annual rainfall anomalies in New Zealand from 1990 to 2023

Glacier ice volume in New Zealand 1978-2020

Total volume of glacier ice in New Zealand from 1978 to 2020 (in cubic kilometers)

Greenhouse gas emissions

• Premium Statistic Households and industries carbon dioxide emission volume New Zealand 2020-2023
• Premium Statistic Greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2023, by industry
• Premium Statistic Primary industry greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023
• Premium Statistic Secondary industry greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023
• Premium Statistic Services industry greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023
• Premium Statistic Household greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023

Volume of carbon dioxide emissions from industries and households in New Zealand from March 2020 to September 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Volume of greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand in 2023, by industry (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Primary industry greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023

Volume of greenhouse gas emissions from the primary industry in New Zealand from 2015 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Secondary industry greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023

Volume of greenhouse gas emissions from the goods-producing industry in New Zealand from 2015 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Services industry greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023

Volume of greenhouse gas emissions from the services industry in New Zealand from 2015 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Household greenhouse gas emission volume New Zealand 2015-2023

Volume of greenhouse gas emissions from households in New Zealand from 2015 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)

Public perception

• Premium Statistic Importance of climate change issues in New Zealand 2024
• Premium Statistic People who believe they will be affected by climate hazards in New Zealand 2019-2024
• Premium Statistic Opinion on current response to climate change in New Zealand 2019-2024
• Premium Statistic Opinion on government response to climate change in New Zealand 2019-2024
• Premium Statistic Opinion on business response to climate change in New Zealand 2019-2024
• Premium Statistic Personal actions taken to reduce the impact of climate change in New Zealand 2024

Importance of climate change issues in New Zealand 2024

Importance of climate change issues in New Zealand as of June 2024

Share of people who believe they will be affected by the impacts of climate hazards in New Zealand from 2019 to 2024

Opinion on current response to climate change in New Zealand 2019-2024

Opinion on current response to climate change in New Zealand from 2019 to 2024

Opinion on government response to climate change in New Zealand 2019-2024

Opinion on government response to climate change in New Zealand from 2019 to 2024

Opinion on business response to climate change in New Zealand 2019-2024

Opinion on business response to climate change in New Zealand from 2019 to 2024

Personal actions taken to reduce the impact of climate change in New Zealand 2024

Personal actions taken to reduce the impact of climate change in New Zealand as of June 2024

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You are here, climate change (educational policy and practice for a changing climate).

Project team : Rachel Bolstad, Sophie Watson, Jo MacDonald, Keita Durie 

This project began in 2019. It addresses questions about what changes or adaptations our education system may need to make in the immediate and short-to-medium term future, in response to climate change.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to download our research reports, briefings, and articles.

Research questions to guide our work in 2021-2022 (last updated October 18, 2021)

The team has identified a set of research questions that derive from an overarching idea: “What does good practice look like?”. The focus will be to seek good practices and “next” practices that show what the transition to a socially-just, climate-changed, zero-carbon future can look like in Aotearoa New Zealand, across a range of contexts – and how those involved in those practices got to where they are now.  

1. What is happening in education settings (e.g. schools) where climate change education and action is flourishing?  

2. What do young people want from their education settings (e.g. schools) in response to climate change?

3. How are kura Māori approaching climate change and climate change education?

4. What can be learned from mātauranga Māori to guide climate change mitigation and/or adaptation practices in education settings?

5. What do/can effective Te Tiriti-based climate responses look like in education?  

Questions that guided the initial phase of our project in 2019-2020

• According to national, international, and indigenous perspectives, how could Aotearoa’s education systems and policies respond to climate change?
• To what extent is climate change considered an urgent issue or priority in the education system (for schools, kura, and in terms of system-level educational policy and planning)
• What can be learned from kura Māori and kaupapa Māori approaches and responses?
• What are the implications or impacts of student-, school-,  and community-led climate responses for the educational system in Aotearoa New Zealand?
• What might education look like in Aotearoa New Zealand, if climate change mitigation and adaptation were factored into policy and practice across the system?

Read our reports

We have already published three research reports (See bottom of page for free full-text).

In 2019 we asked principals and teachers questions about  climate change and sustainability questions in the 2019 NZCER National Survey of primary and intermediate schools.

In 2020 we surveyed teachers and leaders from a sample of secondary and composite schools about whole-school and classroom climate and sustainability practices.

In October 2020 we published a report of key themes from key informant interviews including  youth perspectives, Māori perspectives, Pacific New Zealander perspectives, system/policy/academic perspectives, and educator perspectives. 

Articles and blogs

Rachel Bolstad wrote an article for  NZ Principal Magazine , "Climate change - what can schools do?" March 2020, volume 35, number 1, pp. 24-28. To read the article click here.  

Check the NZCER blog for our posts, including this post about what the Climate Change Commission's report says about education , and a guide to the Emissions Reduction Plan for busy educators .

Rachel was invited to contribute an  opinion piece for Education International on  Harnessing education's power for positive climate action .

Rachel was interviewed on RNZ Nine to Noon, discussing how to support young people with climate anxiety through engaging and acting in response to climate change.

Set Special Issue

We contributed to a Special Issue of Set: Research Information for Teachers  (No 3: 2020) on the theme of "Climate change, education, and a sustainable future". Find it here . 

Are you interested in contributing to this project?

We are seeking to make further connections with educators and students involved in educational activities and responses relating to climate change .  We are especially interested in learning about solution-focused practices, localised activities,  effective collaboration with community organisations, and student engagement and agency. If you would like to contribute, send us an email!  

Do you want to receive email updates from this project?

Subscribe to receive occasional email updates here .

Climate Change (Educational policy and practice for a changing climate) project publications:

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Climate change risks to conservation

Introduction.

Climate change is a significant risk to New Zealand’s native species, ecosystems, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage. New Zealand is already experiencing some predicted climate changes. These changes are expected to worsen in the coming decades and include:

• warmer temperatures
• changes in rainfall patterns and rainfall intensity
• more extreme weather events.

DOC has an important role in understanding how our natural environment will respond to climate change and how we should manage this.

Risk of climate change to native species

As the effects of climate change increase, threatened species will become even more vulnerable.

The rate of change in our climate is very fast compared to the historic change species have experienced, and many species won't be able to adapt in time. Many native species also lack the ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change at the rate expected and may need support.

Species which may need help are those that:

• are highly specialised, for example, tuatara
• have reduced genetic variation because of a limited number of breeding pairs, for example, little spotted kiwi, takahē and black robin
• have limited distribution, for example, rock wren, black-eyed gecko and Archey’s frog
• are reliant on the sea’s food resources, for example, rockhopper penguins and wandering albatross.

Other threats to native species

How our native species and ecosystems respond to climate change is complicated by other threats, such as invasive pest species and human-related habitat loss.

Invasive pest species may benefit from climate change. For example, pest species such as hedgehogs, ship rats and wasps may increase in range and abundance. This will then impact native species.

Changes in land management practices by other sectors adapting to climate change could affect native species. For example, building sea walls to protect coastlines from storm surges and sea-level rise will impact coastal ecosystems.

Climate change effect on vulnerable ecosystems

All of our native species and ecosystems will eventually be affected by climate change, either directly or indirectly. Some ecosystems will be more vulnerable like alpine, freshwater, and coastal ecosystems.

Alpine ecosystems

Alpine ecosystems are refuges for many of our bird, lizard and invertebrate species. These ecosystems also contain a great diversity of plant species.

Increased animal pest pressure like hedgehogs, rats, and wasps is expected in both the short and long term. In the long-term alpine zones will also experience increased woody growth as tree lines and scrub move upslope.

Freshwater ecosystems

Freshwater ecosystems will also be particularly vulnerable because they are already subject to high levels of land use pressure like dams and irrigation. Native freshwater plants and animals will be impacted by climate change directly and indirectly. Direct climate change effects include increased flood frequency and drought Indirect climate change effects include increased irrigation, pests and weeds.

Coastal ecosystems

Coastal ecosystems include estuaries, coastlines, and offshore island habitats. Rising sea levels will squeeze our coastal native ecosystems against developed land. Storm surge and increased sedimentation as a result of increasing flood frequency will also affect these ecosystems.

Risks to outdoor recreation and heritage

Recreational experiences are being impacted by an increased frequency and intensity of severe weather events and rising sea levels.

The coastal flooding risk will increase as sea levels continue to rise. Scientists predict that sea levels are likely to rise by at least 0.5 – 1 m by the year 2100. DOC research shows hundreds of DOC locations and assets are at risk of coastal flooding from storm surges and extreme tides. These locations and assets include:

• coastal tracks
• ecologically important sites
• historic cultural sites.

High-intensity rainfall events are already impacting on tracks and other infrastructure. For example, at locations such as Queenstown, Fiordland, and Aoraki/Mount Cook.

More information

Resources from National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Reserve (NIWA):

• NIWA information on climate change
• Climate change projection maps and data
• Climate change information for climate solvers

United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change

• Women’s Resilience to Disasters (WRD) Programme
• Policy Tracker
• WRD Community of Practice
• WRD Expert Register
• Recommended Platforms

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Adapt and thrive: Building a climate-resilient New Zealand

December 2021.

This document sets out Aotearoa New Zealand’s long-term strategy and first national adaptation plan. The long-term strategy sets out the Government’s approach to adaptation. This first national adaptation plan, and subsequent plans, will be prepared and implemented in accordance with this strategy. The plan contains Government-led strategies, policies and proposals that will help New Zealanders adapt to the changing climate and its effects – so the potential harm of climate change can be reduced, as well as seize the opportunities that arise. It responds to the risks identified in the National Climate Change Risk Assessment 2020, which was prepared under the Climate Change Response Act 2002. It also draws upon the latest science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and builds on recommendations of the Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Group from 2018.

This plan involves many agencies, departments and ministries. Making it work requires new ways of coordinating effort across government, as well as with Tiriti partners and with local government, the business community and civil society. Successful implementation will involve central government oversight and coordination, indicators for assessing progress, and a research strategy to fill knowledge gaps. A climate change interdepartmental executive board will oversee the emissions reduction plan and national adaptation plan, and report on progress. The Climate Change Response Ministers Group, chaired by the Prime Minister, will oversee the plan and drive progress. Every two years, He Pou a Rangi – Climate Change Commission will report to the Minister of Climate Change on the implementation and effectiveness of the national adaptation plan.

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What we are reading

A new agreement on trade and climate change

Published 27 August 2024

In early July, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland signed the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade, and Sustainability (ACCTS). Meanwhile, the EU's move to raise tariffs on Chinese EV imports while reducing those on Tesla has escalated trade tensions, prompting China to investigate EU dairy imports. Economic security is reshaping national security strategies. Check out what we have been reading.

Jump to Section

Regulating the climate-trade nexus | New salvos in the trade war | The scope of national security | Responding to economic coercion | Trade agreements  | More research from Hinrich Foundation

Regulating the climate-trade nexus

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a database of key documents related to ACCTS negotiations. Wendy Cutler and Jane Mellsop, in Nikkei Asia, tell the world to take note of the new deal . William Alan Reinsch of the Center for Strategic and International Studies sees a small sign of life on the climate-trade front .

Mentioned publications  

• Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) – New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade , August 24, 2024 (last accessed) New Zealand maintains a database with public information about a new agreement on trade and climate change.
• World should take note of a new trade and climate change deal – Wendy Cutler and Jane Mellsop, Nikkei Asia (Op-ed) , July 31, 2024 Cutler directs attention to the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS).
• A Small Sign of Life on the Climate-Trade Front – William Alan Reinsch, Center for Strategic and International Studies , August 12, 2024 CSIS provides context for understanding the importance of the ACCTS agreement. 

 🠕 Back to top

New salvos in the trade war

As it prepares to impose higher tariff rates on EVs imported from China, the EU decides to lower a proposed tariff on Tesla , per the New York Times. In response to the EU’s tariffs, China announces an investigation into EU dairy imports , reports Bloomberg. China is imposing export restrictions on antimony and CSIS explores the impact on US national security .

• Europe Slashes Tariffs for Tesla Vehicles Made in China – Melissa Eddy and Jenny Gross, The New York Times , August 20, 2024 The New York Times reports on the EU decision to impose a lower tariff rate on Teslas made in China.
• China Targets EU Dairy in Probe as Trade Tensions Intensify – Bloomberg , August 21, 2024 Bloomberg reports on China’s review of EU subsidy programs for dairy products.
• China’s Antimony Export Restrictions: The Impact on U.S. National Security  – Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz, Center for Strategic and International Studies , August 20, 2024 CSIS summarizes the impact of China’s antimony export restrictions on US industry. 

The scope of national security

Daniel Drezner in Foreign Affairs explains how everything became national security , while Kathleen Claussen and Timothy Meyer in Just Security explore how e conomic security is reshaping Presidential power . Dr. Lúcio Vinhas de Souza for CSIS compares the EU and US approaches toward an economic security strategy . Bloomberg reports on how ports are becoming pawns in geopolitics . Agathe Demarais in Foreign Policy catalogues the winners from geopolitical-driven de-coupling .

• How Everything Became National Security – Daniel Drezner, Foreign Affairs , September/October 2024 Drezner argues that when everything is "national security" nothing can be a national security priority.
• How ‘Economic Security’ is Re-shaping Presidential Power – Kathleen Claussen and Timothy Meyer, Just Security , July 16, 2024 Claussen and Meyer argue for Congress to take back authority over foreign commerce.
• Developing an Economic Security Strategy: EU and U.S. approaches – Dr. Lúcio Vinhas de Souza, Center for Strategic and International Studies , August 21, 2024 The author compares and contrasts EU and US policy approaches toward economic security.
• A $2 Trillion Reckoning Looms as Ports Become Pawns in Geopolitics – Bloomberg , August 20, 2024 Bloomberg writes that the world’s ports are increasingly viewed as geopolitically important assets.
• The Winners From U.S.-China Decoupling – Agathe Demarais, Foreign Policy , July 15, 2024 Foreign Policy enumerates five ways economies are winning from US-China "de-risking". 

Responding to economic coercion

China has used economic tools to coerce economies perceived to work against its interests. Reuters reports that targets of economic coercion can call a team at the US State Department for help. Wendy Cutler and Shay Wester of the Asia Society Policy Institute find lessons in Lithuania’s experience with economic coercion. CSIS expands the tool kit to counter China’s economic coercion.  

• China has threatened trade with some countries after feuds. They’re calling ‘the firm’ for help – Didi Tang, Reuters , May 27, 2024 Reuters reports that the US State Department has a team for helping economies counter China’s economic coercion tactics.
• Resilience & Resolve: Lessons from Lithuania's Experience with Chinese Economic Coercion – Wendy Cutler and Shay Wester, Asia Society Policy Institute , April 17, 2024 ASPI provides a case study in resisting economic coercion.
• Expanding the Tool Kit to Counter China's Economic Coercion – Cynthia Cook, Gregory Sanders, Alexander Holderness, John Schaus, Nicholas Velazquez, Audrey Aldisert, Henry H. Carroll, and Emily Hardesty, Center for Strategic and International Studies , May 6, 2024 CSIS posits that sanctions may be the best tool for combatting economic coercion. 

Trade agreements

Dmitry Grozoubinski teaches readers how to understand trade agreements and the public statements government officials make to sell them to the public.

• There Are No Free Lunches in Trade Deals – Dmitry Grozoubinski,  Foreign Policy , August 11, 2024 An excerpt from Grozoubinski’s new book explains why politicians lie about trade.

More related analysis from HF:

• Unilateral green rules and voluntary standards: A balancing act for Brazil
• China EVs drive a widening gulf in transatlantic trade policy
• China’s sanctions regime and Lithuania: Policy responses for European institutions

© The Hinrich Foundation. See our website Terms and conditions for our copyright and reprint policy. All statements of fact and the views, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s).

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A Theory of (Climate) Justice

Britta Clark draws on the insights of philosophy to navigate the ethics of efforts to mitigate global warming  

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The summer of 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere continues to break records for extreme heat. Several US cities have experienced new record-high temperatures this year, and according to a report by the European Union’s Copernicus Programme, the June just past was the hottest ever recorded on Earth, narrowly beating a global temperature record set in June 2023. But while climate change poses challenges to all of humanity, the crisis affects different populations unequally, depending on location, infrastructure, and access to housing and air conditioning. New technologies could help mitigate the effects of climate change, though their full impact is still being tested.  

In these circumstances, what would it mean to work toward justice and equity in responding to the climate crisis? And, as researchers develop the technologies of the future, how should this concern for justice impact humanity’s actions in the present? 

As a PhD candidate in philosophy at the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), Britta Clark applies her discipline’s methods to reach a new understanding of the ethical and political issues raised by the climate crisis—and humanity’s response to it. Addressing the potential role of technologies like carbon removal and solar geoengineering, Clark expands existing notions of success in mitigating the effects of climate change to include considerations of justice and equity. 

Helping a Friend 

Carbon dioxide removal technologies pull carbon from the ambient air and then sequester it, typically burying the element deep underground. Solar geoengineering envisions shooting aerosols, usually sulfate aerosols, into the stratosphere to temporarily abate climate change impacts by reflecting some of the sun’s rays back into space and away from Earth. To illustrate the ethical dilemmas that accompany the deployment of these new technologies, Clark offers an analogy. 

“Imagine you have a big task to perform,” she says. “Say, you have to shovel your driveway in the winter. And you know that maybe, later in the afternoon, you'll have this set of technologies that will maybe make the challenge of shoveling your driveway a little bit easier. You’re fairly certain but not totally certain. There’s a chance that the new technology might make things more difficult, adding more snow to your driveway. What should you do with that information?”  

Clark argues that mainstream answers to that question––in terms of the climate response––take a narrow view of success. Specifically, when policymakers focus on economic metrics, they ignore other possibilities for a fair climate future. Continuing the analogy of snow removal as climate change mitigation, Clark explains, “The standard economic models will tell you, ‘Well, it's going to be easier to shovel your driveway later, with the new technology, so you should slow down.’” In other words, Clark says, economists have calculated that it is financially optimal to wait for these technologies to help us meet climate goals––and, according to this view, to move more slowly in current climate preservation efforts, like reducing carbon emissions.  

We know that climate change will impact already disadvantaged people the most, but in mainstream discussions, there’s been less focus on the relationship between fairness and . . . emerging [climate] technologies. —Britta Clark 

“But that's not the only response you could have,” Clark continues. “You might also say, ‘It's going be easier to shovel my driveway later, so I should get started now. And then later, I can go help a friend.’” In terms of climate change, well-resourced nations could potentially use their wealth to speed up their own response and then provide assistance to other countries. Clark says that “helping a friend” is an option that should not be ignored as we consider how to use climate technologies––and that economic models limit our thinking by closing off certain possibilities that may actually deserve careful consideration.  

“We know that climate change will impact already disadvantaged people the most,” she says, “but in mainstream discussions, there’s been less focus on the relationship between fairness and these emerging technologies.” 

Clark argues that a view informed by moral and political philosophy also helps us identify errors in common ways of thinking about new technologies. “Although most proponents of carbon removal are quick to say that the technology is not a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Clark explains, “in practice, economic models do substitute carbon removal for emissions reductions in all those circumstances where doing so is supposedly cheaper. In other words, the models tell us we can shovel the driveway a bit slower.” But Clark argues that we should also consider the possibility that humanity should raise its standards in the climate change response. “Just because there’s the potential that a technology could enable us to meet our goals at lower costs,” she says, “doesn't mean that that is the only possible role of the technology. We also could raise the ambitiousness of our climate goals.” 

By approaching these issues from the perspective of philosophy, Clark hopes to “open up our thinking beyond what the economic models assume” and to consider more broadly the ways we could understand the role of new technologies. To do this, Clark critically analyzes climate debates––identifying their underlying assumptions––and then formulates and tests out principles of what justice and morality could look like in the current situation. She also specifically considers the issue of intergenerational justice or what moral responsibilities we have toward Earth’s future generations. 

Clark’s project requires extensive knowledge from outside her main field of philosophy. As her advisor, Associate Professor of Philosophy Lucas Stanczyk, explains, “Thinking about the ethical dimensions of climate change is difficult because it requires plural subject-matter expertise, hard-won philosophical insight, and a duly cynical orientation towards the politics. Britta Clark’s research brings all of these virtues to bear on urgent ethical questions at the intersection of science, technology, and climate change.”  

Harvard via the Green Mountains and New Zealand 

Britta Clark’s deep interest in the environment dates back to her childhood. Growing up in a town surrounded by Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest led her to value time spent outdoors in natural environments––and, eventually, to become invested in environmental education and protection efforts. “I’m still pretty involved in a small nature center there, the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center,” says Clark, “and with organizing trail workdays, events, and doing some conservation work.” 

As an undergraduate at Bates College, Clark became drawn to the interdisciplinary humanities field of environmental studies, which allowed her to pursue interests in the philosophical, historical, and cultural issues associated with environmentalism. This experience led her to then pursue a master’s degree in philosophy as a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Otago in New Zealand, where she focused on analyzing relationships between humans and nature. 

Studying overseas broadened Clark’s perspective because of the high value given to Indigenous traditional knowledge and practices. “If you told someone in the US to think of rivers as being people, for example, they might say that sounds insane––but people are much more willing to entertain ideas like that in New Zealand, just because they’re more accustomed and exposed to them,” Clark says. 

Over time, Clark realized climate change was a very human problem and wanted to devote more of her intellectual energy to thinking about policy debates, leading her to her eventual PhD research area––and to Harvard’s Department of Philosophy. “In general, I was very impressed by both the philosophical rigor and the willingness to speak to policy-related issues in Harvard’s department. It seemed like a group of people who wanted to do really good philosophical work on relevant, current issues,” she says.  

Needful Questions 

Following her graduation in fall 2024, Clark plans to stay at the University as a postdoctoral researcher in the Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program, a group of mostly scientists and engineers studying climate mitigation technologies. She looks forward to learning from their experiences––and to giving a voice to new ways of thinking that flow from an ethical, philosophical, and humanities-based perspective. 

Beyond Harvard, Clark hopes her work will inspire new ways of thinking about our response to climate change, allowing policymakers, scientists, and citizens to imagine a wider range of possible futures. Professor of Philosophy Gina Schouten, a member of Clark’s dissertation advising committee, says this contribution to the discussion on climate change is badly needed.  

[Britta’s] work is theoretically innovative but primarily oriented toward practical, needful questions such as, ‘Which technological strategies should we pursue, how, and why?’ —Professor Gina Schouten 

“Britta’s dissertation project develops and defends an actionable normative theory that can guide decision-makers with respect to climate policy in our unjust circumstances,” Schouten says. “ Her work is theoretically innovative but primarily oriented toward practical, needful questions such as, ‘Which technological strategies should we pursue, how, and why?’”  

Clark’s hope is that her work can bring increased clarity to these debates and open up possibilities foreclosed by standard ways of thinking about new technologies. “You often hear people say, ‘We know what we need to do about climate change––we just need the political will to do it,’” she says. “But once we think about all the different ways that we could transition away from fossil fuels, and which technologies we could use to make that transition, it becomes clear that there are tons of remaining ethical questions in this area.” 

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New Reports Highlight New Zealand’s Opportunity To Boost Climate Finance

Two new reports reveal how New Zealand can meet its climate finance obligations ahead of COP29. 

Humanitarian agencies World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa, alongside the New Zealand Climate Action Network (NZCAN), have released two important climate finance reports today. 

These reports are published during the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga and ahead of the United Nations climate change conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the New Zealand government will be participating in negotiations on climate finance to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation measures 

Doing Our Fair Share: New Zealand’s Responsibility to Provide Climate Finance, is published today by World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa. 

"Our report highlights New Zealand’s responsibility to bolster its climate finance support for communities on the frontlines of climate change in the Pacific" says co-author, World Vision’s Advocacy Policy and Research Advisor, Dr Olivia Yates. 

"As climate change intensifies, those communities least responsible are paying the highest price. Children and their families who are facing the most severe impacts often live in poverty, unable to afford the necessary tools to switch to greener, more climate-resilient livelihoods and prepare for future unprecedented extreme weather," she says. 

Co-Author, Oxfam Aotearoa’s Climate Justice Lead Dr Nick Henry says "New Zealand’s climate finance is helping to build resilience for Pacific communities on the frontlines of climate change. The need for support will only increase in the coming years and New Zealand should continue to stand with the Pacific and be ready to contribute our fair share." 

The report reveals that to meet its fair share of climate finance, New Zealand should be contributing between 0.38% and 0.66% of the global climate goal, which currently equates to between NZ$558 million and NZ$953 million each year, based on our gross national income (GNI) and historic greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, New Zealand is only fulfilling 34% to 58% of this target. 

The report shows that, although New Zealand’s climate finance falls short by over NZ$200 million, its funding has been steadily increasing. In the next funding round (2026-2030), New Zealand has a fresh opportunity to show global leadership by committing to provide a fair share of climate finance. 

Dr Olivia Yates hopes the report will encourage the government to take seriously the need for ambitious climate finance in its upcoming climate finance decisions. "While all countries must act on climate change, higher-income countries like New Zealand should pay their ‘fair share’ of the bill for climate action, based on their higher historical emissions and financial capability."

Climate finance involves funding to support lower-income countries to cover the costs of shifting to greener systems, adapting to our warming world, and dealing with losses and damages from extreme weather - all vital for a response to climate change that leaves no one behind.

Seizing the Moment: A New Climate Finance Goal That Delivers for the Pacific, by Climate Action Networks (CAN) in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, calls on the New Zealand Government to stand with the Pacific and commit to new funding aligned with a stronger global goal on climate finance, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), to be set at COP29 this November.

The NCQG is set to replace the prior US$100 billion (NZ$146 billion) annual global goal, a promise made by higher-income nations in 2010 to provide at least US$100 billion annually for climate change adaptation and mitigation each year.

Dr Nick Henry, Climate Justice Lead at Oxfam Aotearoa and co-author on the CAN report, says that funding to-date has been far from fair. 

"The previous $100 billion goal was largely met in 2022 through loans and redirected development assistance, exacerbating debt burdens in lower-income countries. Countries on the frontlines of climate change now spend more paying debts than they receive in aid."

The CAN report calls for a global target of at least US$1 trillion per year (NZ$1.46 trillion), prioritising grants over loans, to adequately support those hit hardest by climate change.

"At COP29, New Zealand has an opportunity to stand with the Pacific and advocate for a stronger, fairer climate finance target," he says.

"New Zealand should commit to its fair share of the refreshed global goal, retaining its emphasis on grants instead of loans, and in addition to current aid efforts, to show enduring support, leadership, and a commitment to equity."

As COP29 approaches, New Zealand has the opportunity-and the responsibility-to increase its fair share of climate finance and stand with the Pacific to ensure a fairer and more sustainable future for people most affected by climate change. Countries on the frontlines are urging global action, and New Zealand must rise to the challenge.

New Zealand’s fair share of climate finance has been calculated by looking at the country’s share of responsibility for climate change (based on the country’s cumulative emissions of greenhouse gases since 1992 and since 1850) and its ability to pay (according to its Gross National Income) relative to other higher-income ("Annex II") countries.

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Prime minister defends peters' climate comments.

"Both Winston Peters (pictured) and I agree climate change is an existential threat to the Pacific Islands," Christopher Luxon says. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters has been labelled a climate denier by the opposition after downplaying the climate crisis while visiting the Pacific.

Peters returned from Tonga on Tuesday night after attending the Pacific Islands' Forum - but not before making comments the prime minister had to clean up.

Peters raised eyebrows when asked if he believed in climate change in Tonga on Tuesday.

"Do I believe in climate change... for thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of years there has been climate change," he said.

"Cyclone Gabrielle happened in the '30s in Hawke's Bay. The biggest tsunami in recent times was in 1968."

Peters spread climate misinformation at a public meeting in Napier during last year's election campaign; citing incorrect figures about the human impact on CO2 and trying to link tsunamis to global warming.

Three climate scientists found his comments inaccurate, with one suggesting Peters' narrative came from the climate sceptic community that used small, jumbled numbers to trivialise the subject.

Speaking to Peters' most recent comments in Tonga, Christopher Luxon was quick to explain the pair are both on the same page.

"Both Winston Peters and I agree climate change is an existential threat to the Pacific Islands. There's no doubt about that and that's not in dispute."

The comments came moments before Question Time started in Wellington, with Labour and the Greens launching a climate attack on the coalition.

Peters was in the hot seat, answering questions on behalf of Luxon as acting prime minister.

"Why does the prime minister believe that it's okay for the minister of foreign affairs to travel to the Pacific and question the science of climate change in front of leaders who, in some cases, are finding their countries literally sinking into the ocean?" Labour leader Chris Hipkins asked.

"Does he agree with comments from former Tuavalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga who said, when speaking about this government's planned reversal of the oil and gas ban, 'don't forget that whatever you are going to do, it is going to increase greenhouse gas emissions, which are going to sink the islands of Tuvalu and kill the people'," Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick asked.

Peters was unapologetic in the House before backing away from the comments when asked if he believed humans had a role in climate change.

"Of course, when has anybody ever denied it? But I was trying to make the point that some people don't seem to understand when they think that they're the only ones in any generation that's ever been concerned about it."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has put a spotlight on the impact of climate change, particularly sea level rise, during his time in Tonga this week.

He has also criticised governments - like New Zealand - for overseeing new oil and gas exploration, saying they're "signing away our future".

Luxon does not believe these comments were directed at New Zealand, adding he agrees with them.

"I fully support those comments. Every country needs to be able to move away from fossil fuels and embrace renewables, but let's be a bit more intellectually rigourous about that and make sure that we've actually got the plan to actually deliver that objective, rather than just make sweeping statements.

"As you see in New Zealand, you can make as many sweeping statements as you like in 2018 but look at the pain and suffering we're causing to lower middle income working New Zealanders across this country."

The Pacific Islands Forum reaches critical talks on Thursday as leaders gather for a day-long retreat on another island, with no officials or media present.

Forum talks almost collapsed in 2019 over clashes between Australia and Tuvalu, over Australia's refusal to roll over on removing references to coal in the forum communiqué.

It is unlikely discussions will reach such a head this year but fossil fuels will no doubt continue to be a heated topic.

Copyright © 2024 , Radio New Zealand

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WHO calls on Pacific leaders to make health and climate a high priority at regional leaders’ meeting

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific joined prime ministers and presidents from across the Region and United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Tonga this week. At the high-level meeting, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala called on leaders of Pacific islands and other countries to make health a high priority on their agenda, in the context of the climate catastrophe that is putting the Pacific in peril. 

During the PIF Plenary on 28 August, Dr Piukala made the case for putting health on the annual agenda of the Leaders Meeting . He highlighted three areas in particular. First, he emphasized the urgent need to take action to protect populations in the Pacific from the impacts of climate change on health – specifically, the need for resilient health infrastructure. Dr Piukala noted that a recent review of 76 hospitals in 14 Pacific island countries found that 62% of health facilities were within 500 metres of the sea or a river. This has resulted in health facilities in Fiji, Nauru, Niue and Tonga having to be relocated due to risks of inundation and flooding during extreme weather events. 

Second, Dr Piukala called for critical investments in the health workforce. He urged leaders to invest in training and retention of health workers so that they remain in their countries to serve the needs of their populations. Lastly, he called for a major acceleration of efforts to address noncommunicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, which are responsible for at least 70% of deaths in the Region. 

Climate change as a major focus 

Climate change was a major focus of the PIF meeting, with wide recognition by the leaders of the devastation it is causing to a region already prone to natural disasters and emergencies. 

On the first day of the meeting, when heavy rainfall and a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Tonga, Dr Piukala said: "This is a reminder for all of us of how important it is to work together to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience.” 

According to recent reports, tropical cyclones account for 76% of disasters in the Pacific, driving several health impacts including infrastructure damage, injury and death. Across the South-West Pacific 1 , hydrometeorological hazard events – such as storms and floods – resulted in more than 200 deaths and affected the lives of more than 25 million people last year alone. 

During the meeting this week, Secretary-General Guterres launched a new technical brief on surging seas in a warming world . “I am in Tonga to issue a global SOS – Save Our Seas. The world must act, and answer the SOS before it is too late…If we save the Pacific, we also save ourselves,” said Secretary-General Guterres. The brief describes the potentially devastating effects of climate-driven coastal hazards and sea-level rise on coastal ecosystems and the economic sector. “Such impacts are already or are likely to create risks to livelihoods, settlements, health and wellbeing, food and water security,” said Secretary-General Guterres. 

WHO’s work with countries 

WHO is working with governments and partners across the Region to make health systems and communities more climate resilient including the recent work in Fiji, focusing on health-care facilities assessment, as well as in Kiribati and Vanuatu. In Kiribati, WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in implementing the four-year Te Mamauri project – which received US$ 6 million in funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency − to increase the climate resilience of the health system, including retrofitting health facilities with solar energy, assessing drinking water quality and facilitating community empowerment to take adaptive action to reduce the health risks of climate change. And after Vanuatu was hit by tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin in March 2023, WHO and the Ministry of Health established a multisectoral One Health Committee to address the health impacts of leptospirosis outbreaks.  

As Pacific leaders concluded their meeting this week, Dr Piukala called for increased investment in climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities, as well as increased international climate financing to support the transition. With rising sea levels and extreme weather events, and health crises happening more and more frequently, the resilience of the region will depend on continued collaboration, innovative solutions, and the unwavering commitment of Pacific leaders and their communities. 

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1 The World Meteorological Organization South-West Pacific Region is composed of: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

About WHO: 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations’ specialized agency for health. Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala is the first person from the Pacific to ever be elected WHO Regional Director. Since February 2024, he has led the Organization’s work in the Western Pacific from Manila, Philippines. As part of the Western Pacific Regional Office, WHO’s Division of Pacific Technical Support in Suva, Fiji, provides tailored, timely support to 21 Pacific Island countries and areas. The Division has six other offices across the Pacific, in Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. 

Media Contacts

Mr Ruel E. Serrano

Senior Communications Associate WHO Western Pacific

WHO Regional Director Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala’s remarks at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting

More information on the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting