ACT New Zealand proposes abolishing Climate Change Commission

The ACT Party has proposed the disestablishment of the Climate Change Commission, arguing that the body has cost taxpayers $100 million since its inception and requires $14–15 million in annual operating costs.

ACT candidate Paul Henry stated that the Commission’s monitoring and reporting responsibilities would be transferred to the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), which currently manages the Emissions Trading Scheme and greenhouse gas inventories. The party claims the move would eliminate duplication of work and unnecessary spending.

ACT also criticized the Commission’s policy recommendations, asserting that increasing New Zealand’s 2050 emissions reduction commitment would negatively impact the economy. According to the party, such a move could lower GDP by 2.2%, representing a loss of approximately $2 billion annually by 2035 and rising to $12.5 billion per year by 2050. The party further noted that previous recommendations, such as tighter Emissions Trading Scheme restrictions and reductions to the dairy herd, have been rejected by Cabinet.