Climate Implications of Policy Assessment guide 2026

The purpose of CIPA is to provide Ministers with information about the climate implications of Cabinet decisions. This includes whether a proposal may have a material impact on New Zealand’s ability to meet its legislated EBs or its current ERP. 

The CIPA requirement applies where proposals meet one or more of the four criteria:  

• an objective of the policy proposal is to decrease GHG emissions or increase GHG removals  
• the impact on GHG emissions or removals is likely to be equal to or above 0.25 per cent of the total permitted emissions in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) of any of the notified EB periods, whether it be an increase or decrease  
• the proposal could materially increase or decrease emissions related to an action or policy within a current ERP 
• the proposal could materially affect the achievement of New Zealand’s EBs.  

This guide supports agencies to meet CIPA requirement criteria (outlined above). It provides information on:  

• what the CIPA is, including criteria for information to be provided to Cabinet  
• the CIPA process and required documentation  
• how to complete a GHG emissions analysis and assess the impact of proposals on meeting EBs or actions or policies in a current ERP. 

CIPA early engagement form

CIPA early engagement form [Word, 63kb]

Agencies should complete the early engagement form for all proposals where there is a potential material emissions impact on actions within a current ERP and/or achievement of EBs, or where there is an unknown or uncertain impact on emissions. This includes if the impacts are indirect or difficult to quantify.  

The early engagement form is intended to help identify if your policy is likely to be subject to CIPA requirement criteria by:  

• determining where your policy may have GHG emission impacts in one or more of the sectors identified by the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and   
• considering potential impacts on New Zealand’s EBs and current ERP.   

This form should be sent to the CIPA team at cipa@mfe.govt.nz.    

Please note that for regulatory proposals, questions in the CIPA early engagement form are answered in the RIA Online portal and the responses are automatically sent to the CIPA inbox.    

CIPA disclosure form

CIPA disclosure form [Word, 61kb]

The CIPA team will review information in the early engagement form or RIA Online portal, and determine whether further information is required or if an agency should complete a CIPA disclosure form. Where the CIPA requirement applies, agencies should complete the CIPA disclosure form (linked above). This includes an estimation of the GHG emissions impacts, relation to action items in a current ERP, and the per cent of total permitted emissions of any of the notified EB periods.  

Once agencies have completed the CIPA disclosure form, it should be sent to the CIPA team at cipa@mfe.govt.nz who will confirm compliance with CIPA requirements and provide a compliance statement. The completed CIPA disclosure sheet should be attached to the relevant Cabinet paper.

See the Cabinet Office Circular for CIPA (CO (20) 3) (DPMC website)).  

For more information on the CIPA requirement, please email cipa@mfe.govt.nz.