Climate Change Commission: it’s the end of the road for Carr (without sending four knights to nobble him)
King Henry II is popularly believed to have signalled his exasperation after repeated disagreements with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, by blurting: “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”
Four of Henry’s knights interpreted this as a royal command and set off for Canterbury, where they slew Becket while he prayed at the altar.
It is considered unseemly in this country to have four knights bump off the champions of disagreeable advice – but when it’s the former vice-chancellor the University of Canterbury who is a pain in your arse, you can replace him with a dame when his term as chair of the Climate Change Commission expires.
And so Rod Carr will be succeeded by Dame Patsy Reddy.
The news came just a few days after the commission released its Review of the 2050 emissions target including whether emissions from international shipping and aviation should be included.
The commission, prone to irritating the government of the day with its politically unpalatable reports, is the independent Crown entity that provides the Government advice, monitoring and reporting to support New Zealand’s transition to a climate-resilient, low emissions future.
When the emissions target was set in 2019, Parliament recognised that circumstances can change. For that reason it required the target be reviewed every five years.
The report released last week records the findings and recommendations after its first review.
It found significant changes have occurred and says:
Other countries have adjusted their targets and emissions reduction plans as it becomes increasingly clear that the world is no longer on track to limit warming to 1.5°C, and as understanding of the risks and impacts of climate change increases. Aotearoa New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are small on a global scale, but high per capita. If every country caused the same warming per capita as Aotearoa New Zealand, global warming would exceed 5°C in coming decades
The commission recommended the Government amends the 2050 target to require further reductions in greenhouse gases beyond what is required under the current target.
We are recommending that the target be amended to require:
– net emissions of all enhouse gases other than biogenic methane to reach at least net
negative 20 MtCO2e by 2050
– emissions from international shipping and aviation to be included in this net negative
20 MtCO2e target
– gross emissions of biogenic methane to reach at least 35–47% below 2017 levels by 2050
– there are further reductions and removals of greenhouse gases beyond these levels after 2050.
The advice no doubt was irritating, at least, to a government that has been accused of systematically dismantling our climate change policies.
The No Right Turn blog observes the government has just released its own “strapped-chicken review of the methane target” to support its position that we should do less.
“ The problem for the government is that [the commission’s review] has statutory force: the government must publicly respond to it, and the statutory presumption is clearly that the Minister will follow the advice of Parliament’s expert body. If they do anything other than agree to fully adopt the recommended target, they must give reasons for any departure. And in such a case, you can expect the decision to be very closely scrutinised by the courts.”
As it happens, commission chair Rod Carr’s term expired over the weekend, as did the terms of two other board members.
Today, No Right Turn observes that National has taken the opportunity to replace them with three new people who will not challenge the government’s “do nothing” stance”.
The appointments were announced by Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, who highlighted the top job going to Dame Patsy Reddy.
The press statement says Dame Patsy was the 21st Governor-General of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021. In 2014, she became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts and business and in 2016 she was made a Dame Grand Companion of the Order for services to the state. She is currently Chair of the New Zealand Rugy Union and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Foundation. She is also a trustee of the Malaghan Institute and the Aspen Institute New Zealand.
Dame Patsy’s appointment will take effect in February 2025. In the meantime, Commissioner and Deputy Chair Lisa Tumahai will be acting chair.
Watts has also appointed Felicity Underhill and Devon McLean as Commissioners from December 2024 until September 2028, replacing Catherine Leining and Professor James Renwick.
The announcement is among the latest posts on the government’s official website.
It is considered unseemly in this country to have four knights bump off the champions of disagreeable advice – but when it’s the former vice-chancellor the University of Canterbury who is a pain in your arse, you can replace him with a dame when his term as chair of the Climate Change Commission expires.
And so Rod Carr will be succeeded by Dame Patsy Reddy.
The news came just a few days after the commission released its Review of the 2050 emissions target including whether emissions from international shipping and aviation should be included.
The commission, prone to irritating the government of the day with its politically unpalatable reports, is the independent Crown entity that provides the Government advice, monitoring and reporting to support New Zealand’s transition to a climate-resilient, low emissions future.
When the emissions target was set in 2019, Parliament recognised that circumstances can change. For that reason it required the target be reviewed every five years.
The report released last week records the findings and recommendations after its first review.
It found significant changes have occurred and says:
Other countries have adjusted their targets and emissions reduction plans as it becomes increasingly clear that the world is no longer on track to limit warming to 1.5°C, and as understanding of the risks and impacts of climate change increases. Aotearoa New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions are small on a global scale, but high per capita. If every country caused the same warming per capita as Aotearoa New Zealand, global warming would exceed 5°C in coming decades
The commission recommended the Government amends the 2050 target to require further reductions in greenhouse gases beyond what is required under the current target.
We are recommending that the target be amended to require:
– net emissions of all enhouse gases other than biogenic methane to reach at least net
negative 20 MtCO2e by 2050
– emissions from international shipping and aviation to be included in this net negative
20 MtCO2e target
– gross emissions of biogenic methane to reach at least 35–47% below 2017 levels by 2050
– there are further reductions and removals of greenhouse gases beyond these levels after 2050.
The advice no doubt was irritating, at least, to a government that has been accused of systematically dismantling our climate change policies.
The No Right Turn blog observes the government has just released its own “strapped-chicken review of the methane target” to support its position that we should do less.
“ The problem for the government is that [the commission’s review] has statutory force: the government must publicly respond to it, and the statutory presumption is clearly that the Minister will follow the advice of Parliament’s expert body. If they do anything other than agree to fully adopt the recommended target, they must give reasons for any departure. And in such a case, you can expect the decision to be very closely scrutinised by the courts.”
As it happens, commission chair Rod Carr’s term expired over the weekend, as did the terms of two other board members.
Today, No Right Turn observes that National has taken the opportunity to replace them with three new people who will not challenge the government’s “do nothing” stance”.
The appointments were announced by Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, who highlighted the top job going to Dame Patsy Reddy.
The press statement says Dame Patsy was the 21st Governor-General of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021. In 2014, she became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts and business and in 2016 she was made a Dame Grand Companion of the Order for services to the state. She is currently Chair of the New Zealand Rugy Union and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Foundation. She is also a trustee of the Malaghan Institute and the Aspen Institute New Zealand.
Dame Patsy’s appointment will take effect in February 2025. In the meantime, Commissioner and Deputy Chair Lisa Tumahai will be acting chair.
Watts has also appointed Felicity Underhill and Devon McLean as Commissioners from December 2024 until September 2028, replacing Catherine Leining and Professor James Renwick.
The announcement is among the latest posts on the government’s official website.
Buzz from the Beehive
9 December 2024
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has launched a new public health campaign to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder by promoting alcohol-free pregnancies.
Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy has been appointed as the new chair of the Climate Change Commission, the independent Crown entity that provides the Government advice, monitoring and reporting to support New Zealand’s transition to a climate-resilient, low emissions future.
The Government is proposing commonsense changes to reduce the upfront cost of building, while maintaining robust energy efficiency standards, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.
8 December 2024
Racing Minister Winston Peters has announced the introduction of legislation to amend the Racing Industry Act 2020 which will extend TAB NZ’s current land-based monopoly for sports and racing betting to online.
6 December 2024
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has today announced two new appointments to the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) Board.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
No comments:
Post a Comment