Reducing emissions and building resilience to climate change impacts

We are one of the few countries in the world to have a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 enshrined in law.

We have now released our first emissions reduction plan which sets the pathway for achieving this goal.    

The emissions reduction plan sets the direction for climate action for the next 15 years with policies and strategies across all sectors including transport, energy, waste and fluorinated gases, building and construction, and agriculture and forestry.   

In total there will be six emissions budgets and emissions reduction plans to take us out to 2050. Each budget will be a stepping stone to our 2050 net zero target and each plan will include the necessary policies and strategies.  

Reducing our emissions is critically important, but we also need to address the changes already locked into our climate system and prepare for further changes. 

We are currently consulting on our first national adaptation plan which responds to the top priority risks identified in the 2020 National Climate Change Risk Assessment and draws together existing and proposed initiatives. Its focus is on enabling everyone to understand the climate risks they face and take action. It’s a comprehensive plan that will be updated every six years.    

Consultation on the draft national adaptation plan is now underway and ends on 3 June.    

Many New Zealanders, communities and businesses are already taking steps to reduce their emissions and put measures in place that will improve their resilience to the impacts of climate change. The emissions reduction plan and the final national adaptation plan being released in August set out further actions that we can all get behind.    

Working together we can build a better future for all New Zealanders and the generations to come.