Taking strong climate action

Aotearoa must take real action to meet its climate obligations and deliver a just transition for the workers and communities who will bear the brunt of the climate crisis.

Tackle the climate emergency

On the current track, Aotearoa New Zealand is unlikely to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement on climate change. This lack of ambition is unacceptable. Given our relative wealth and our potential to generate renewable electricity, we should aim to be a world-leader in decarbonisation. We want to establish a tripartite consensus on the actions needed to rapidly decarbonise our economy, while ensuring good long-term employment.

Support local climate adaptation

Climate change and the need for managed retreat is increasingly real for many communities. We propose that the Government establish and sufficiently resource a climate adaptation fund that supports hapū, iwi, and communities with adaptation, including flood protection and relocation.

Support climate action in the Pacific

Pacific Island countries are particularly threatened by climate change. Urgent action is needed if Pacific communities are to thrive in the future. We propose that Aotearoa significantly increases its support for green economic development and climate adaptation across the Pacific.

Effectively manage just transitions

Delivering a just transition for workers experiencing economic change is a complex process that requires coordination across government. To support coordination and improve accountability, the Government should establish a Just Transitions Minister. This Minister would have responsibility for delivering just transitions for workers and industry in response to economic change and ensuring that worker voice is central to the process.

Restore and improve publicly owned energy

The structure of the energy sector causes high energy bills for households, undermines our economic resilience and slows our transition to a fully renewable system. The market for electricity is not working for workers nor the companies that rely on reasonably priced electricity. Government should commit to take energy ownership back into public hands and take measures to enable the rapid adoption of household renewable energy infrastructure such as solar panels.

Decarbonise freight and support rail and coastal shipping

Aotearoa relies heavily on trucking to move freight around the country and for export. Other, more carbon-efficient, methods of haulage have been overlooked and underinvested in. We propose levying a fee on road haulage to better reflect the costs they impose on road maintenance and to support the development of new rail and coastal shipping infrastructure. This would feed into a redevelopment of an industry plan for transport, and the wider workforce.