2851 (2025). Chlöe Swarbrick to the Minister of Climate Change

2851 (2025). Chlöe Swarbrick to the Minister of Climate Change: On what basis, if any, does the Minister claim that New Zealand’s second Nationally Determined Contribution represents New Zealand's ‘highest possible ambition,’ given the Climate Change Commission presented advice on domestic contributions that indicated there were more ambitious but achievable targets?

Hon Simon Watts: The Paris Agreement requires the second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC2) to represent each Party’s “highest possible ambition, reflecting its common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances”. Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities is generally understood to mean that all states have an obligation to address climate change, but with different levels of responsibility. Relevant national circumstances may include a broad range of factors including New Zealand’s status as a developed country, emissions profile, including a high proportion of emissions from agriculture and significant, existing renewable electricity generation, and the feasibility of meeting the target. Setting NDC2 as a range signals ambition while providing flexibility for New Zealand’s overall delivery to respond to evolving national circumstances.