Climate Change Assessments for the Ministry for the Environment

In 2020, legislation was passed to boost employment and economic recovery in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 enabled an alternative consenting pathway for projects across Aotearoa New Zealand. Each project required the Minister for the Environment to seek comments from Ministers of the Crown, Local Authorities and Iwi before deciding to refer the project to an expert consenting panel who decide the final outcome. One of the features of this alternative consenting pathway was the consideration of the project’s contribution of New Zealand’s efforts to mitigate climate change and transition more quickly to a low-emissions economy.

Our dedicated planning team worked with the Ministry for the Environment to provide a climate change assessment for these projects, aiding the Minister of Climate Change in providing comment on each application. The projects ranged from residential development, retirement villages, and commercial operations including quarries, solar and wind farms, and aquaculture projects.

It has been rewarding for our team to contribute in a small way to some amazing projects that will positively shape our country’s future.