NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR HOST

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000401 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG PINR NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR HOST GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE REF: A. SECSTATE 116939 ¶B. WELLINGTON 297 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During the past five years, as the GNZ has ramped up its involvement in Global Climate Change (GCC) issues under the leadership of Helen Clark, there have been no significant structural changes within the government. Instead, the GNZ has absorbed GCC responsibilites within the existing governmental framework, albeit with the addition of approximately 70 additional staffers in various ministries. To date, the existing Climate Change Ambassador, Adrian Macey, has not changed with election of the new government under John Key. However, Key recently named Dr. Nick Smith as both the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Climate Change. End summary. No Structural Changes in Government from GCC Efforts -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) In response to action request (Ref A),no significant organizational changes have occurred within the GNZ during the last 12-18 months as the government works to address global climate change (GCC). In September 2008, the New Zealand parliament adopted a comprehensive and ambitious cap and trade program to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions (the Emissions Trading Scheme or "ETS" - see Ref B). However, that initiative did not result in any significant organizational changes within government. The GNZ uses a cross sector, "whole-of-government" approach to deal with GCC issues, with responsibilities being split among several ministries: - ETS: Ministry for the Environment (MfE)(sic) - Emissions registry (for ETS): Ministry of Economic Development (MED) - Energy strategy: MED - Energy efficiency and conservation strategy: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority - Sustainable land management and climate change strategy: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) - Transport strategy: Ministry of Transport (MOT) - Waste strategy: MfE - GCC adaptation, public awareness and education: MfE Though There is a New GCC Czar... -------------- ¶3. (U) As a result of previous climate change policies adopted in 2002 and 2005, the GNZ had already appointed a Minister for Climate Change (within MfE) and a Climate Change Ambassador (within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade). The new Minister for Climate Change, appointed in November by PM John Key, is Dr. Nick Smith, who also holds the position of Minister for the Environment. The existing Climate Change Ambassador is Adrian Macey, and there has been no indication from the Key government to date that Macey will be replaced. And 70-plus GCC-related Personnel -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Over the last five years, as the GNZ gradually ramped up its involvement in GCC issues under the Helen Clark regime, staffing for those efforts increased significantly. According to Phil Guernsey, who serves as the environmental staffer for Minister Smith, GCC-related positions within the GNZ have increased during that period by approximately 70 positions: MfE has added approximately 30 personnel; MAF has added another 30 or so; MED, approximately 10; and MOT and Ministry of Treasury, one or two each. These positions represent a sizable addition to the GNZ budget and as a result, according to Guernsey, the Key government is closely scrutinizing the budget impact of that personnel growth (as well as non-GCC-related personnel expansion throughout government over the last several years). Bio Note on Dr. Nick Smith -------------- ¶5. (U) Bio note: Dr. Nick Smith, age 43, is the second-youngest member of the National Party's front bench. His portfolio includes environment, climate change, and the ACC (the GNZ-owned health and disability insuror). He has a PhD in civil engineering and entered parliament at the age of ¶24. End note. McCORMICK