This Act puts in place a legal framework to enable New Zealand to meet its international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
Last updated: 4 April 2021
The Act includes powers for the Minister of Finance to manage New Zealand’s holdings of units that represent New Zealand’s target allocation for greenhouse gas emissions under the Protocol. It enables the Minister to trade those units on the international market. It establishes a registry to record holdings and transfers of units. The Act also establishes a national inventory agency to record and report information relating to greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with international requirements.
In 2019, the Act was amended by the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act.
These amendments provide a framework by which New Zealand can develop and implement clear and stable climate change policies that:
This Act is administered by the Ministry for the Environment.
There are seven regulations and four orders under this Act covering a broad scope of technical regulations including general exemptions, fishing allocation plan, eligible industrial activities, removal activities, stationary energy and industrial processes, synthetic greenhouse gas levies, the New Zealand Refining Company Limited, unique emissions factors, Unit Register, waste, forestry, and fossil fuels.
Read the regulations on the NZ Legislation website.