[UNCLASSIFIED]
OIA Ref: 2022-001
Alex
[FYI request #18176 email]
7 March 2022
Tēnā koe Alex
Thank you for your email of 12 January 2022 requesting under the Official Information Act (the Act):
“I request under the Official Information Act 1982 why the recommendation of 'Aotearoa
should focus on decarbonising its industries rather than reducing production in a way that
could increase emissions offshore' was removed from the Commission's final advice Ināia tonu
nei: a low emissions future for Aotearoa. I also request all documents, correspondence and
emails that mention or led to this being removed...
I also request under the Act if the Commission looked at the impact that offshoring pol ution
along with the purchase of carbon credits in overseas markets would have on; total global
emissions (in particular transportation), Aotearoa's balance of trade (cash outflows/inflows),
and the impact on NZ job losses. If so please provide this research.”
The recommendation you refer to was included in our draft advice
(page 29) as principle 2:
“Principle 2: Focus on decarbonising the economy. Aotearoa should prioritise actions that reduce gross
emissions within our borders, as wel as removing emissions by sequestering carbon dioxide in forests.
Aotearoa should focus on decarbonising its industries rather than reducing production in a way that could
increase emissions offshore. Forest sequestration should not displace making gross emissions reductions.
Relying heavily on forestry before 2050 is likely to make maintaining net zero long-lived greenhouse gas
emissions after 2050 challenging. It would delay action, lead to higher cumulative emissions and put the
burden of addressing gross emissions on to future generations. This would require significantly more land to
be converted to forestry in the future.”
We received a lot of feedback on the principles during consultation on our draft advice and particularly on
how we had used the principles. As a result of this feedback, we made a number of refinements to the
principles.
We clarified in our final advice
Ināia tonu nei: a low emissions future for Aotearoa that the principles fall out
of our analysis and are intended to be used to guide the transition.
[UNCLASSIFIED]
[UNCLASSIFIED]
The need to prioritise actions that reduce gross greenhouse emissions rather than reducing production is
referred to in
Principle 3 in Ināia tonu nei (page 88).
In section 5.1.5 of Ināia tonu nei (pages 67-68), we note that moving too quickly to reduce emissions in
Aotearoa could force businesses to reduce production, which could have flow on effects to society or could
increase global emissions, when there may have been other solutions if a different course was taken.
As the information that you have requested in the first part of your request, does not exist, we are refusing
this aspect of your request under section 18(e) of the Act.
We have interpreted the second part of your request to refer to our advice on emissions budgets. The
Climate Change Response Act (2002) requires the Minister to set emissions budgets for Aotearoa that can
be met domestical y. In line with this we have recommended emissions budgets that are achievable
through deploying technologies and changing behaviour within Aotearoa.
More information on the impacts of emissions budgets can be found in
Chapter Eight of Ināia tonu nei –
including employment impacts.
As the information that you have requested in the second part of your request is publicly available on the
Commission’s website, at the links provided above, we are refusing this aspect of your request under
section 18(d) of the Act.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision in accordance
with section 28(3) of the Act. Information about how to do so is available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that the Commission has a policy of proactive release of OIA responses to help others have
access to more information.
As a result, this letter wil shortly be published on the website with your name and contact details redacted
to protect your privacy.
Ngā mihi
Astrid Nunns
General Manager,
Strategy, Planning and Engagement
[UNCLASSIFIED]
