New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it is incredibly encouraging that the Climate Change Commission's first official report shows that reaching our emissions reduction goals are both achievable and affordable.
The commission's first report, published today, laid out a path to drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
Three new targets for the country were set: an average reduction of 2 percent each year between 2022 and 2025, 17 percent each year between 2025 and 2030 and 36 percent each year between 2030 and 2035.
Commission chair Dr Rod Carr said investing in electric vehicles, renewable energy generation, climate-friendly farming practices and planting more native forests would be critical to meeting the targets.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the draft advice was incredibly encouraging.
"The commission has determined that the economic cost to New Zealand, as I've said, is not as great as previously thought.
"In fact, there are great economic opportunities for new jobs and new business over the coming years as we transition to an emissions free economy."
However, Ardern said the government would have to address the problem of costs not being distributed evenly across communities.
While the National Party cautiously welcomed the report, it said more analysis was needed.
The party's climate change spokesperson Stuart Smith questioned whether the proposals were the most cost-effective way of reducing emissions.
He said he would like to see the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) get more use.
"Overseas evidence shows that those policies are incredibly cost inefficient and what we have in New Zealand is a very effective ETS, it's a very well-designed system and what we really need to do is utilise that," he said.
"That puts a price on emissions, and consumers and businesses will make the decision themselves on how to lower those emissions."
Climate Minister James Shaw said the release of the draft advice was a significant milestone in the government's response to the climate emergency. ■