Ref: OIA 2022-026
Chris McCashin
[FYI request #21338 email]
7 February 2023
Tēnā koe Chris
I refer to your email of 5 December 2022 requesting information under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act).
On 27 January 2023, due to an administrative error, the Commission became aware that we had not processed
your request as required. As a result of this error, you did not receive a response from us by the statutory
deadline of 23 January 2023. As soon as we became aware of our error, we notified you of the situation by email
and assured you that every effort would be made to ensure you receive a considered response as soon as
possible. On behalf of the Commission, please accept my sincerest apologies for this oversight.
The Commission’s purpose is to provide evidence-based and entirely independent advice to government on
climate issues. It is then up to the government of the day to consider our independent advice when making its
decisions on how best to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand transitions into a thriving climate-resilient and low-
emissions economy.
With the Commission’s independence from government in mind, we are not accountable for overseeing any
legislation that relates to fol owing aspects of your request:
“Are you able to provide from 2000 - 2022
Total Number of policies implemented for climate change that require the taxpayer to pay directly or
indirectly a fee to stop the climate changing
Please provide the total revenue generated from the above policies per year
Can you please provide the impact this tax has had on the climate to date - eg temperatures 2000, 2005,
2010 etc etc. For every dol ar taken how many degrees has the temperature reduced or increased
Can you also please provide a detailed account of where this money has gone and what it has been used
for - line by line audit if possible
As such, questions relating to the total policies that involve fees for the climate, performance of such policies
(including taxation), and the use of any proceeds, seek information which is not held by the Commission. We
must therefore refuse portion of your request in accordance with Section 18(e) of the Act, that the information
requested does not exist.
Please note, we considered transferring your request to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE), as a central
government agency which may have more oversight of these policies. However, in the interests of providing you
with a response as quickly as possible, we are instead providing you with their contact details. You can make
requests for information to MfE directly via the following email address
: [email address]
In response to your question
“are we expecting temperatures to rise long term or fall like the ice-age and the
numerous changes in temperature through the years from the beginning of time”, please note that our first
advice to government –
Ināia tonu nei: a low emissions future for Aotearoa – and the supporting evidence (in
particular Part 1 of the supporting evidence) summarises what we expect to happen with temperatures in the
long term. You can read this advice in full on our website, at
: www.climatecommission.govt.nz/our-work/advice-
to-government-topic/inaia-tonu-nei-a-low-emissions-future-for-aotearoa/
Additionally, the work of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sets out their latest projections
of future temperatures. You can read reports published by the IPCC, outlining their findings, on their website, at:
www.ipcc.ch/
As such, we are refusing this aspect of your request under Section 18(d) of the Act, because the information
requested is publicly available.
The remainder of your request (outlined below) asks the Commission for its views and not for official
information:
What is the ultimate amount of tax required for us to live on this earth for the Climate Change
Commission? I should I look forward to everything we do to be taxed forever without any change in
temperature...
... Does the tax amount change if the temperature drops for a couple of years?”
Guidance from the Chief Ombudsman states agencies are not required to create/provide opinions in relation to
information requests
(www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/what-ombudsman-can-help/requests-official-
information/your-ability-request-official-information). However, the advice provided in
Ināia tonu nei outlines
our expectations about future temperatures and may be helpful for your purposes.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this response by the Office of the Ombudsman,
in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details can be found on their website at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz
Please note that the Commission has a policy of proactive release of responses to requests made under the Act
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
Stephen Walter
General Manager – Emissions Budgets, Adaptation & Markets
Climate Change Commission
