39117 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Climate Change

Written Question

Published date: 11 Sep 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	39117 (2026)
Question asked:	01 Sep 2026
Member asking:	Lan Pham
Portfolio:	Minister of Climate Change
Minister replying:	Hon Simon Watts
Answer received:	07 Sep 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_39117_2026
Document guid:	e2c27c38-5f29-4b3a-8e5e-4f6bda323451

39117 (2026). Lan Pham to the Minister of Climate Change: Following Reply 37168 (2026), what prompted the Minister to write his undated letter to "Mayors, Chairs and Chief Executives" of councils "regarding the use of climate change assumptions in council planning, infrastructure investment, asset management, and regulatory decision-making"?

Hon Simon Watts: This is set out in the letter itself: "The Government is increasingly concerned that some climate-related planning and investment decisions may be relying on high-end emissions scenarios in a way that results in unnecessary costs being imposed on ratepayers, businesses, and communities."