The Climate Change Response Act 2002 is an Act of Parliament passed by the
government of New Zealand.
The Climate Change Response Act 2002 created a legal framework for New Zealand to ratify the
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that (part ...
and to meet obligations under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It sets out powers for the Minister of Finance to manage New Zealand's holdings of
Assigned amount units and to trade Kyoto-compliant emission units (carbon credits) on the international market. It establishes a registry to record holdings and transfers of emission units.
It establishes a national inventory agency to record and report
greenhouse gas emissions.
The legislative purposes of the Climate Change Response Act 2002 are;
*to develop and implement clear and stable climate change policies that contribute to the global effort under the Paris Agreement to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels; and to adapt to the effects of climate change.
* to enable New Zealand to meet its obligations under the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the scientific consensus that (part ...
, and,
* to provide for the
New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme for greenhouse gases that reduces net emissions below business-as-usual levels.
The
Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading) Amendment Act 2008 established the
Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand's version of the
New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme in September 2008.
Part 4 of the Climate Change Response Act sets out the
New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
On 8 May 2019, the Government introduced the
Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill to Parliament. The Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill received
royal assent on 13 November 2019.
See also
*
Climate change in New Zealand
*
Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill
*
New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
*
New Zealand environmental law
*
Politics of global warming
References
External links
The Climate Change Response Act 2002
Statutes of New Zealand
Climate change in New Zealand
Environmental law in New Zealand
2002 in New Zealand law
Climate change policy
2002 in the environment
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