| In this issue of EDS News: |
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| | New regime for offshore renewables ignores environmental risks | | Government adds ‘Energy Security Crisis’ to its arsenal in War on Nature | | Fast-track amendments are a good start | | National direction to be overhauled | | Time to step up on climate adaptation |
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| | New regime for offshore renewables ignores environmental risks |
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| | The Government intends to introduce a new law for offshore renewable energy by the end of the year. EDS supports efforts to decarbonise New Zealand’s electricity generation, including via offshore wind generation, but it’s critical that regulatory settings for renewables address environmental risks. The proposed regime fails to do so: | - Proposed decision-making criteria do not explicitly include any environmental considerations.
- Projects will become eligible for fast-tracking once the regime comes into force. So environmental consents could be assessed against the exploitation-oriented purpose and criteria of the Fast-track Approvals Bill with limited opportunities for public input.
- Site selection is to be ‘developer-led’, so no areas are 'off limits'. Spatial planning is required here to resolve conflicts between users and protect areas with high environmental values.
- Applications for feasibility permits must be publicly notified but there are no further opportunities for public input on commercial permits (up to 7 years later). This is worrying because the public could also be excluded from the environmental consent process via fast-tracking.
| | The Government wants to pass its Offshore Renewable Energy Bill in mid-2025. We will review the proposals closely and take action to ensure environmental considerations are not ignored. |
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| | | Government adds ‘Energy Security Crisis’ to its arsenal in War on Nature |
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| | Cabinet has unveiled plans to fast-track a new liquified natural gas import terminal. EDS opposes the move. The infrastructure will cost millions of dollars and increase the country’s reliance on fossil fuels at a time when we should be investing in environmentally sustainable renewables. The way forward regarding gas shortages is to shut down Methanex, which uses 40% of our supply and then exports 95% as methanol (at the same time getting massive climate subsidies from the Government). Cabinet has also signalled it will introduce legislation to repeal the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration by the end of the year which is silly. Last month, EDS submitted on New Zealand’s draft Second Emissions Reduction Plan, and called on the Government to develop more ambitious climate change policies. These latest proposals do the complete opposite, risk undermining the country’s emissions reduction goals and put us offside with Pacific neighbours. |
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| | | | Fast-track amendments are a good start |
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| | In an attempt to take the heat out of the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill, Ministers Bishop and Jones have announced that final decision-making should sit with expert panels. This is a sensible and welcome move. | | However, it does nothing to address the development bias of the Bill’s purpose which does not consider the natural environment or climate change. Given the primacy afforded to this purpose, expert panels will be largely hamstrung in their decisions. It will be very difficult for them to decline projects on the basis of significant adverse effects. The simple solution is to amend the purpose to factor in environmental and climate considerations. | | Meantime, 384 applications for various housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, quarrying and mining projects are being considered for listing in the Bill’s Schedules. EDS’s information request for the names of those projects was declined but we have lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman and expect a ruling soon. |
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| | | National direction to be overhauled |
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| | There will be a bonfire of regulation around Christmas, with Minister Bishop announcing “the single largest package of national direction changes in New Zealand’s history” and a second Resource Management Amendment Bill. Phase 2 of RMA Reform will focus on four priority areas: infrastructure and energy, housing, farming and the primary sector, and emergencies and natural hazards. The devil will be in the detail but signals indicate that some of the changes will undermine key environmental protections. EDS is looking to scale up our capacity to engage in these massive changes to our environmental laws and national direction. |
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| | | | Time to step up on climate adaptation |
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| | Last month, the Climate Change Commission released its first report on New Zealand’s National Adaptation Plan. It found the Government must take bolder action to drive adaptation at the scale and pace needed to address climate change risks. EDS endorses the Commission’s recommendations. In July, we published a report called Design Recommendations for a Climate Adaptation Act, setting out a package of statutory and institutional reforms to enable the country to successfully adapt to climate risks. It's crucial that the adaptation process starts now and that new and innovative tools and approaches are proactively put in place. | | We are currently scoping a second phase of the EDS Climate Adaptation Project and are actively seeking partners and funding support for our work. If you would like to discuss this, please contact Raewyn Peart at raewyn@eds.org.nz. |
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