The Government has today announced its 2025
budget.
“This is not a budget that will set Aotearoa
New Zealand up to become a thriving low-emissions economy.
It is distinctly unambitious and doesn’t treat climate
change as a priority”, says Jessica Palairet, Executive
Director at Lawyers for Climate Action NZ.
“This is
another lost opportunity for New Zealand.”
“The
transition to a low-emissions economy is an opportunity for
New Zealand to improve its standard of living with a cheaper
and more secure energy system powered by renewables, better
public and active transport options, and to get ahead of
climate risks by building our resilience and supporting
adaptation in our most vulnerable
communities.”
“This budget misses the mark. Rather
than taking advantage of the opportunities the low-emissions
transition presents, the budget embraces fossil fuels –
providing $200M for the Government to invest in new gas
fields. As many of our international peers move away from
fossil fuels, we’re doing the opposite.”
And what
about our Paris Agreement commitments?
“The budget
does not make the investments required to meet our 2030
Paris Agreement target. The government has accepted that
there is an 84 million tonne CO2-e gap between what our
domestic emissions reductions will achieve and what our 2030
target requires. The 2025 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update
acknowledges that “it is likely that meeting this target
would involve significant costs, starting within the current
fiscal forecast period”.”
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“Without allocating
any money to filling that gap, it is hard to believe the
Government is serious about meeting our international
climate commitments”, says
Palairet.
“Failing to take active steps
towards meeting its international climate obligations risks
placing New Zealand in breach of its Free Trade Agreements
with the European Union and the United Kingdom, possibly
opening New Zealand up to the risk of trade
sanctions.”
“The Government has also
reduced the funding New Zealand provides to support our
Pacific partners with climate finance, leaving a $100M per
year gap. The investment provided under this budget falls
well short of our commitment under the Paris Agreement, made
worse by the fact that the funding tagged for international
development cooperation is “not exclusively focused on
meeting climate finance objectives.”
“This budget
was a missed opportunity. We call on the Government to
properly consider climate opportunities and risks, and set
New Zealand up for success into the future”.
Lawyers
for Climate Action NZ Inc is an incorporated society
committed to using the law to drive action on climate
change. We have no vested interest other than seeing New
Zealand meaningfully contribute to the goals of the Paris
Agreement in light of the science of climate change as
expressed by the IPCC. More information about LCANZI can be
found on our website: www.lawyersforclimateaction.nz
