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NEED SOME HELP WRITING YOUR SUBMISSION ON THE 2022 NZ BUDGET POLICY STATEMENT?

USE THIS HANDY TEMPLATE! 

Note: this is just a template. The more you add your own flair, the better.

Kia ora, my name is ______. I am a [insert profession, if you like] from [insert your region/area].

I’m concerned about climate change and how it is impacting ______ (e.g. the mountains, rivers and lakes that I enjoy so much). (You can add a short personal story of how climate change affects you here e.g.: how it affects your leisure activities, your work, your family, your friends, your community, our pacific neighbours, the elderly, the poor, the vulnerable.) 

The 2022 Budget Policy Statement provides crucial funding that, if distributed in the right way, can enable us to address climate change and help Aotearoa meet its climate change targets both domestically and internationally. 

As the recent IPCC scientific report illustrates, there is still a path forward to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C if rapid, large-scale action is taken. We can choose that path through providing the necessary funding to enable the transition to a low-emissions economy.

Comments on the Budget Policy Statement (BPS)

It is positive that ensuring a just transition has been outlined as a top priority on the list of wellbeing objectives on page 20. It is also positive that climate change has been included as a key issue to address under the overarching goals on page 23. 

However, it is more important how this is reflected within the BPS. Unfortunately, in its current form, the BPS fails to recognise the urgency of the climate change emergency and provide the necessary funding to support Aotearoa in rapidly reducing emissions.  

It is critical that Aotearoa is genuine in its climate change commitments and that this is budgeted for.

Climate Change Emergency Response Fund

I support the establishment of the Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the use of money from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to reduce gross carbon dioxide emissions. 

However, as the BPS suggests, the $4.5 billion in the CERF is not enough funding to adequately address the climate emergency. This is less than 10% of what was allocated under the Covid Response and Recovery Fund. The climate emergency should be treated with similar urgency and funding allocation. 

As the IPCC states (reference) the effects of climate change will be severe, long-lasting and felt globally if swift action is not taken. Therefore, investment into ensuring positive climate outcomes should ensure large-scale, rapid action. More funding must be made available through other avenues, additional to ETS proceeds.  

Climate spending outside of the CERF

The BPS states that the CERF does not represent the whole picture for climate spending. The National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) is given as an example of another mechanism available under an existing fund. 

The issue is that the NLTF is not a climate-focused fund. It does not prioritise climate-friendly projects nor disincentivise carbon-intensive projects. Therefore, it does not ensure that climate change objectives are being met. 

The majority of this funding was spent on roadways, indirectly encouraging the use of private vehicles - emitting significant amounts of carbon dioxide, with transport being Aotearoa’s largest contributing sector to carbon dioxide emissions.

Given this, Government should look to increase funding within the CERF to ensure climate change is adequately addressed.

A Just Transition 

The amount of funding allocated towards ensuring a just transition within the BPS is lacking. There needs to be more focus on the provision of “green” new jobs created through the transition, as well as a focus on upskilling and re-training people to fill those jobs. It also includes providing funding to support communities most vulnerable and affected by these changes.

Addressing Inequalities

The reduction of economic inequality should be included as an overarching policy goal within this BPS. Addressing inequalities is important because it increases resilience to climate change. This is because climate change affects people and communities differently and the effects are worse for those with existing vulnerabilities. 

Measures to address inequality that need to be funded under this BPS include revitalising the welfare system, increasing income for families with children living in poverty, increasing health standards, housing, and education. 

Climate Change Education 

There also needs to be a focus on climate change education. This should be viewed as an investment in the resilience of Aotearoa in years to come. This education should focus on developing healthy, emotionally-resilient, climate-resilient, low-carbon communities. 

Separate investment should be made for developing climate change education across all ages and communities.

I also suggest investing in national climate campaigns, which do not blame individuals. For example, campaigns to invest your money in a way that doesn’t fund fossil fuels and campaigns to support local, climate-friendly companies. 

Decarbonising the State Sector

Adequate funding needs to be set aside decarbonise the entire state sector. This includes eliminating all fossil fuel boilers. These are emission sources that the Government is directly responsible for. The Government should demonstrate its commitment to addressing climate change by ensuring the rapid decarbonisation the state sector.