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Three reports released today show New Zealand met its target for reducing emissions under the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and is on track to meet its 2020 target, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says.

“New Zealand’s second biennial report to the United Nations shows that we met our target for the period from 2008-2012 through a combination of emissions reductions, carbon removal by forests, and international trading,” says Mrs Bennett.  

A New Zealand inspired Ministerial Declaration on carbon markets was launched by countries at the historic climate change conference in Paris today.

The declaration signals countries' support for carbon markets as a tool in the ambitious global response to climate change.  Already 18 countries have aligned with the declaration.

"New Zealand wants to ensure development of a strong and robust global carbon market that has environmental integrity," says Mr Groser.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser welcomes the conclusion of a new global agreement at the Paris conference on climate change.

“The agreement is a huge and historic step forward,” says Mr Groser.

“This is the first truly global agreement on climate change. All countries are committing to take ambitious action.

Associate Climate Change Issues Minister Simon Bridges will tomorrow travel to Paris, France to take part in the Paris Climate Change Conference.

“For the first time leaders will seek to agree a new binding climate change agreement that includes contributions from all major emitting countries.

“Ensuring maximum participation will be essential for putting the world on a path to keeping global temperature rise below two degrees.

New Zealand will ratify the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser announced today.

“We see ratification of the amendment as critical for maintaining momentum in global climate change negotiations,” says Mr Groser.

The Doha Amendment created a second commitment period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2020. It needs to be ratified by three-quarters of Kyoto Protocol parties to enter into force.

The Government has begun its review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) to assess its operation and effectiveness to 2020 and beyond, Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser announced today.

“In July we set an ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2020,” said Mr Groser.

“This review will look at how the NZ ETS may have to evolve to support New Zealand in meeting this new target.

Good morning everyone.

Transitioning to a low carbon economy and making the most of technology are significant themes in both my energy and transport portfolios.

New Zealand faces transport and energy challenges.  We want to continue to grow our economy and help New Zealanders to prosper. This means we need secure and affordable energy, and a transport system that meets people’s needs. At the same time, we have to reduce our carbon emissions.

Address to the Institute of International and European Affairs Leadership Forum on Climate-Smart Agriculture, 16 July 2015

It is a great pleasure to be in Dublin – it always is. I have visited Dublin regularly since my first visit in the early 1980s and my visits are always focussed on agriculture.

Trade Minister Tim Groser will this month attend the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) meeting in Malaysia, before moving on to Europe to promote a future New Zealand-European Union free trade agreement and to further climate change negotiations.

“The RCEP ministerial and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur will be a chance to influence negotiations to keep the momentum going,” says Mr Groser.

New Zealand will commit to a new, more ambitious climate change target, Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser announced today.

“This target is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030,” Mr Groser said. “This is a significant increase on our current target of five per cent below 1990 emission levels by 2020.”

I would like to thank our two co-chairs, the Hon Simon Power, Chair of the NZ-US Council and Stu Van Soyoc, President of the US-based counterpart organisation for assuming joint responsibility for the Partnership Forum. I think it is a great idea for us to get together once a year with Government, media, business and other stakeholders to take a helicopter view of the relationship.

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser and Energy and Resources Minister, Simon Bridges, today welcomed an International Energy Agency (IEA) report on energy and climate change. Minister Groser is special adviser on climate change to the International Energy Agency.

The report highlights that world greenhouse gas emissions from energy production and use are double the level of greenhouse gas emissions from all other sources. It suggests a number of strategies to reduce these.

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser today called for public submissions on New Zealand‘s post 2020 climate change target.

In December countries will meet in Paris to establish a new climate change agreement. Ahead of the Paris conference, countries are expected to announce the action they will take to curb climate change.  All countries have been asked to put forward a national target to reduce harmful emissions after 2020.

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy have welcomed news of a breakthrough by New Zealand researchers which offers the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions from sheep and cattle by 30 to 90 percent without cutting production.

This breakthrough in methane inhibitors was made by researchers working through the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium.

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser today led a coalition of governments calling for the phase-out of subsidies to fossil fuels in the lead-up to a major climate conference in Paris.
 

Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser departs for Washington tonight to participate in the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change (MEF) at the invitation of US Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern. 

The MEF draws together Ministerial representatives of the world’s largest emitters and invited observers in a bid to accelerate progress in negotiation of the future climate change agreement due to conclude in Paris this December.

Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser welcomes the release of the latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory report by the Ministry for the Environment. The report covers the period since 1990 and provides details about emissions and removals for the 2013 year.

In 2013 New Zealand’s total gross greenhouse gas emissions were 81 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, a decrease of 1.4 per cent over the previous year.

New Zealand and Australian Ministers met in Auckland on 27 February 2015 for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Ministerial Meeting.  New Zealand’s delegation was led by Minister of Trade and Minister for Climate Change Issues, Hon Tim Groser.  Australia’s delegation was led by Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP.

“New Zealand is assisting Pacific Island countries to develop their responses to climate change,” said Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser.

A two-day workshop for Pacific Island countries is being hosted in Auckland by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry for the Environment.

“Climate change is an international problem affecting all nations,” says Mr Groser.

“Pacific islands are some of the most vulnerable to its impacts. They are also playing a leadership role in terms of action.