Reviewing Aotearoa’s NDC and biogenic methane
We have been asked to review Aotearoa’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, and to provide advice on biogenic methane emissions.
The Minister for Climate Change can ask us to provide additional advice.
From time to time, the Minister for Climate Change will ask us for advice on specific topics.
In April 2020, Minister for Climate Change James Shaw asked us to review Aotearoa's first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, and for advice on the potential reduction in biogenic methane, which might eventually be required by Aotearoa as part of the global efforts under the Paris Agreement.
Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
An NDC is a statement of a country's best efforts to address climate change over a set period. Aotearoa has committed to reducing net emissions by an average of 30 percent from 2005 emissions levels, over the 2021-2030 period. We have been asked to review our NDC to ensure that Aotearoa's NDC is compatible with the goal, agreed by Parliament last year, of limiting global warming to 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels.
We understand that our advice will factor into the Government's future decisions about whether the NDC's level of ambition is adequate. If our review of Aotearoa's NDC shows change is necessary, we will make recommendations to Government on how to achieve this.
Biogenic Methane
Biogenic methane is that which is produced by living organisms. In the climate change sense, this means emissions resulting from biological processes in the waste and agriculture sectors.
Alongside the NDC request, the Minister asked for advice on the potential reduction in biogenic methane, which might eventually be required by New Zealand as part of the global efforts under the Paris Agreement.
Our advice is intended to provide greater certainty for planning purposes about the eventual emissions reductions and reductions in biogenic methane emissions which might be required of New Zealand as part of global efforts to limit the average temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees and closer to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
A copy of Minister Shaw's request to the Commission can be viewed here and the Terms of Reference for the request can be viewed here.