Research Projects

Climate Change NZ

Exploring a climate strategy for New Zealand

Climate Change NZ aims to explore a climate strategy for New Zealand.

David Attenborough stated in regard to climate change: ‘My generation is no great example for understanding – we have done terrible things. If we are not making progress with young people we are done!’ (April 2019). Our work aims to provide young people with a platform to enable them to amplify their thinking and have their voices heard. See, for example, the 2019 KiMuaNZ: Exploring Climate Futures workshop below.

In 2019, we also published a discussion paper on a Climate Reporting Emergency.

In 2020, we hosted a webinar with Mark Carney in conversation with Adrian Orr (Reserve Bank) and Hon James Shaw. They discussed rapid pathways to achieve New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon future, with a particular focus on the Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

The current work programme also includes a number of climate-related papers, including a Project 2058 report on climate change reporting.

Find ClimateChangeNZ publications

Latest publication

Working Paper 2024/07 – Collating climate statements contained in 2023 annual reports of NZSX-listed companies

This working paper aims to show how the XRB’s Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Standards were being applied by NZSX-listed companies one year before they became mandatory for entities defined as climate reporting entities under the Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021.

Past initiatives

KiMuaNZ: Exploring Climate Futures (1–3 July 2019)

The KiMuaNZ workshop brought together 40 young New Zealanders between the ages of 18 and 25 who have a connection with the Pacific. They shared experiences and understandings of climate change issues in order to develop different scenarios for New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours.

Read more about KiMuaNZ

A Point of Vanishing Stability 

On 30 May 2019 the Institute held ‘A Point of Vanishing Stability’, a public discussion event at the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington. It sought to explore how New Zealand can develop a climate strategy that provides an urgent yet considered response to climate change. Speakers included Conal Smith, Dr Anita Wreford, Roger Dennis, Adrian Orr, Chlöe Swarbrick and Dr Carwyn Jones.

Read more about A Point of Vanishing Stability

Assorted publications

See a selection of our latest research and publications related to ClimateChangeNZ below.

Working Paper 2024/01 – Timeline of climate-related policy (institutions, legislation, international commitments, instruments and Conference of Parties)

Discussion Paper 2023/02 – Establishing national climate-related reference scenarios

Submission – Market governance of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme Discussion document

Submission – Natural and Built Environment (NBE) Bill Spatial Planning (SP) Bill Climate Change Adaptation Bill

All working papers on climate change since 2020

  • Working Paper 2024/01 – Timeline of climate-related policy (institutions, legislation, international commitments, instruments and Conference of Parties)
  • Working Paper 2023/02 – Comparing climate-related strategies of five selected Commonwealth countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom
  • Working Paper 2021/07 – Scoping the use of the term ‘climate scenarios’ and other climate-related terms in Aotearoa New Zealand and international literature
  • Working Paper 2022/07 – Analysis of Climate Change in Government Department Strategies as at 31 December 2021
  • Working Paper 2022/15 – Reviewing Voluntary Reporting Frameworks Mentioned in 2018–2021 Annual Reports from NZSX-listed companies
  • Working Paper 2022/14 – Reviewing TCFD information in 2017–2021 reports of NZSX-listed companies
  • Working Paper 2021/10 – Analysis of Existing Scenarios in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Working Paper 2021/09 – Analysis of Climate Change Reporting in the Public and Private Sectors
  • Working Paper 2021/01 – Timeline of climate change institutions and instruments since 1980
  • Working Paper 2021/15 – Looking for a taxonomy for Aotearoa New Zealand’s oceans
  • Working Paper 2021/14 – The Role of Ocean Water Temperature in Climate Change Policy – A New Zealand King Salmon Case Study
  • Working Paper 2021/07 – Appendix 2 – Climate Scenario Bibliography
  • Working Paper 2021/07 – Appendix 1 – Climate-related terms in Aotearoa New Zealand and international literature
  • Working Paper 2021/06 – Reviewing TCFD information in the 2017–2020 Annual Reports of NZSX-listed companies
  • Working Paper 2021/02a – Climate change analysis of Government Department Strategies in operation as at 31 December 2020
  • Working Paper 2020/09 – A Forestry-Centric Investigation of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
  • Working Paper 2020/05 – Reviewing Voluntary Reporting Frameworks mentioned in 2019 Annual Reports
  • Working Paper 2020/04 – Analysis of Climate Reporting in the Public and Private Sectors
  • Working Paper 2020/03 – Reporting Requirements of Five Types of Entities
  • Working Paper 2020/02 – The Role of a Directors’ Report: An analysis of the legislative requirements of selected Commonwealth countries
View all Working Papers

All discussion papers on climate change since 2020

  • Discussion Paper 2024/01 – Risks hiding in plain sight: Does a commitment under the Paris Agreement to purchase offshore carbon credits create a requirement to report that commitment in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government? (Invitation to comment)
  • Discussion Paper 2023/02 – Establishing national climate-related reference scenarios
  • Discussion Paper 2021/04 – An Accounting Dilemma: Does a commitment to purchase offshore carbon credits create a requirement to disclose that obligation in the financial statements of the New Zealand Government? (final draft only, this paper became Discussion Paper 2024/01)
  • Discussion Paper 2021/02 – Need for speed: strategy mapping and adaptive management
View all Discussion Papers