Research Projects
Climate Change NZ
Exploring a climate strategy for New Zealand
The overall aim of Climate Change NZ is to explore a climate strategy for New Zealand.
David Attenborough stated in regard to climate change: ‘My generation is no great example for understanding – we have done terrible things. If we are not making progress with young people we are done!’ (April 2019). Our work programme aims to provide young people with a platform to enable them to amplify their thinking and have their voices heard. See, for example, the 2019 KiMuaNZ: Exploring Climate Futures workshop below.
In 2019, we also published a discussion paper on a Climate Reporting Emergency.
In 2020, we hosted a webinar with Mark Carney in conversation with Adrian Orr (Reserve Bank) and Hon James Shaw. They discussed rapid pathways to achieve New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon future, with a particular focus on the Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
The current work programme also includes a number of research reports, including a Project 2058 report on climate change reporting.
Latest publication
Discussion Paper 2024/01 – Risks hiding in plain sight: Does a commitment under the Paris Agreement to purchase offshore carbon credits create a requirement to report that commitment in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government?
Invitation to comment. Please share your observations and thoughts, ideally before 23 March 2024, with us at enquiries@mcguinnessinstitute.org
This is a technical discussion paper that explores whether a commitment by the New Zealand Government to purchase offshore carbon credits to offset emissions should be reported in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government (the overarching accounting problem). It discusses how such a commitment might be recognised or disclosed in the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand.
Past initiatives
KiMuaNZ: Exploring Climate Futures (1–3 July 2019)
The KiMuaNZ workshop brought together 40 young New Zealanders between the ages of 18 and 25 who have a connection with the Pacific. They shared experiences and understandings of climate change issues in order to develop different scenarios for New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours.
A Point of Vanishing Stability
On 30 May 2019 the Institute held ‘A Point of Vanishing Stability’, a public discussion event at the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington. It sought to explore how New Zealand can develop a climate strategy that provides an urgent yet considered response to climate change. Speakers included Conal Smith, Dr Anita Wreford, Roger Dennis, Adrian Orr, Chlöe Swarbrick and Dr Carwyn Jones.
Assorted publications
See a selection of our latest research and publications related to ClimateChangeNZ below.
Working Paper 2024/01 – Timeline of climate-related policy (institutions, legislation, international commitments, instruments and Conference of Parties)
Discussion Paper 2023/02 – Establishing national climate-related reference scenarios
Submission – Market governance of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme Discussion document
Submission – Natural and Built Environment (NBE) Bill Spatial Planning (SP) Bill Climate Change Adaptation Bill
- Working Paper 2024/01 – Timeline of climate-related policy (institutions, legislation, international commitments, instruments and Conference of Parties)
- Working Paper 2023/02 – Comparing climate-related strategies of five selected Commonwealth countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom
- Working Paper 2021/07 – Scoping the use of the term ‘climate scenarios’ and other climate-related terms in Aotearoa New Zealand and international literature
- Working Paper 2022/07 – Analysis of Climate Change in Government Department Strategies as at 31 December 2021
- Working Paper 2022/15 – Reviewing Voluntary Reporting Frameworks Mentioned in 2018–2021 Annual Reports from NZSX-listed companies
- Working Paper 2022/14 – Reviewing TCFD information in 2017–2021 reports of NZSX-listed companies
- Working Paper 2021/10 – Analysis of Existing Scenarios in Aotearoa New Zealand
- Working Paper 2021/09 – Analysis of Climate Change Reporting in the Public and Private Sectors
- Working Paper 2021/01 – Timeline of climate change institutions and instruments since 1980
- Working Paper 2021/15 – Looking for a taxonomy for Aotearoa New Zealand’s oceans
- Working Paper 2021/14 – The Role of Ocean Water Temperature in Climate Change Policy – A New Zealand King Salmon Case Study
- Working Paper 2021/07 – Appendix 2 – Climate Scenario Bibliography
- Working Paper 2021/07 – Appendix 1 – Climate-related terms in Aotearoa New Zealand and international literature
- Working Paper 2021/06 – Reviewing TCFD information in the 2017–2020 Annual Reports of NZSX-listed companies
- Working Paper 2021/02a – Climate change analysis of Government Department Strategies in operation as at 31 December 2020
- Working Paper 2020/09 – A Forestry-Centric Investigation of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
- Working Paper 2020/05 – Reviewing Voluntary Reporting Frameworks mentioned in 2019 Annual Reports
- Working Paper 2020/04 – Analysis of Climate Reporting in the Public and Private Sectors
- Working Paper 2020/03 – Reporting Requirements of Five Types of Entities
- Working Paper 2020/02 – The Role of a Directors’ Report: An analysis of the legislative requirements of selected Commonwealth countries
- Discussion Paper 2024/01 – Risks hiding in plain sight: Does a commitment under the Paris Agreement to purchase offshore carbon credits create a requirement to report that commitment in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government? (Invitation to comment)
- Discussion Paper 2023/02 – Establishing national climate-related reference scenarios
- Discussion Paper 2021/04 – An Accounting Dilemma: Does a commitment to purchase offshore carbon credits create a requirement to disclose that obligation in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government? (final draft only, this paper became Discussion Paper 2024/01)
- Discussion Paper 2021/02 – Need for speed: strategy mapping and adaptive management