The Government has taken an important first step towards preparing New Zealand for climate change by introducing the Climate Change Response Amendment Bill, but the Environmental Defence Society says the new adaptation framework risks becoming just a planning exercise unless ministers address the unresolved question of who will pay for implementation.

Parliament’s Environment Select Committee has today released its report on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill. Together, the Bills will replace the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment addressed the Environmental Defence Society Annual Conference identifying that concurrent resource management and local government reforms risk creating “an expensive mess” if catchments are fragmented.

Following discussions last week on the fringes of the EDS Conference, the Minister of Conservation has agreed to substantial changes to the Conservation Amendment Bill.

The Environmental Defence Society says the decision to delay the Fisheries Amendment Bill until after the general election should mark the end for legislation that would weaken environmental protections and public accountability.