Climate Implications of Policy Assessments (CIPA)

Details of the request

1. MFE's guidance on Climate Implications of Policy Assessments indicates CIPA applies for policy proposals where GHG emissions reductions are an explicit objective of a proposal, or where a particular proposal will have significant GHG emission impacts. How does MFE apply this to decisions to stop a policy - is a decision to discontinue treated as a policy proposal sufficient to trigger the CIPA assessment?
2. If yes, then how many assessments were carried out in respect of policies which were discontinued by the current government that formed part of the first emissions reduction plan?
3. What happens to these projections from CIPA assessments? We understand these go to Cabinet, but are any further steps taken? For example, for those policies which go ahead, are the CIPA assessments used inform the Climate Change Commission's reporting on projected emissions? Are they used for any other reporting? Are they compiled in any way so that impacts can be seen together? Do they make their way into planning for emissions reductions plans?
4. We see the requirements for publication of CIPA disclosures in paragraphs 26 and 27 of the Cabinet Paper. Is there a list, inventory or database available, or would we need to look on each agency's website?
   
   Additionally, could you please:
5. Provide the CIPA assessments described in (2).
6. Explain how changes to planning legislation (for instance the introduction of the Fast-Track regime that may facilitate emissions-intensives projects that would not have been approved under the RMA or EEZ Act) or minerals legislation (for instance the removal of the ban on further exploration for offshore oil and gas) are incorporated into the official emissions projections to be included in the UNFCCC in New Zealand’s biennial report? 

Released document

• CIPA Disclosure Amending the CCRA to repeal NZ ETS agricultural obligations (PDF, 154 KB)

OIA@mfe.govt.nz