Consultation on New Zealand’s Second Emissions Reduction Plan is now open.

The Second Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP2) will be published at the end of this year. It outlines what actions and activities New Zealand should take in the second half of the decade (2026 – 2030) to help navigate towards a low-emissions future.

Earlier this month, the Government released its climate change strategy, which set out is approach for delivering on New Zealand’s climate change goals, including the second emissions budget.

The Ministry for the Environment is now consulting on policy proposals and initiatives to inform the second emissions reduction plan. These proposals sit across the Government’s five priority areas and focus on key sectors: energy, transport, agriculture, forestry and waste.

The Government has come under fire since its release of the ERP2, which shows New Zealand is no longer on track to hit climate targets.

Projections published at the end of 2023 based on policies from the last Government, showed the country hitting its first three emissions budgets.

Under the National Government’s projections, which incorporate decisions to bin a host of Labour-era policies like decarbonising heavy industry and subsidies for EVs, New Zealand is no longer on track to meet its third emissions budget, which runs from 2031–35.

The government said policies for meeting that third emissions budget would be the focus of the next Emissions Reduction Plan.

According to the documents, the government’s goal of having net zero carbon emissions by 2050 also appears to be at risk.

Projections suggest, without more policy changes, net emissions might still be around five million tonnes in 2050, when they should be net zero.

“This draft Emissions Reduction Plan shows that with effective climate change policies we can both grow the economy and deliver our climate change commitments,” Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said.

“Changes made to actions or activities in the first Emissions Reduction Plan is also covered by the consultation. Projections show that we remain on track to meeting the first Emissions Budget, however we want to seek public feedback on the impact of the change in approach.

“The final Emissions Reduction Plan for the period 2026-2030 will be finalised by the end of this year after considering public feedback and advice from the Climate Change Commission.”

Consultation is open until 21 August 2024.