Climate Change Commission established

A team of experts has been appointed to the Governments Climate Change Commission

Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw says “Some issues are too big for politics, and the biggest of all is the climate crisis we face. Our decision to create the Climate Change Commission was about protecting climate policy from political mood swings. This means every future government can stay focused on the job at hand: to help solve climate change and make our communities are cleaner and healthier."

The six commissioners are experts in the fields of climate science, adaptation, agriculture, economics, and the Māori-Crown relationship.

Dr. Rod Carr was appointed as the Chair-designate for the Climate Change Commission in October while Ms. Lisa Tumahai will continue in her role as Deputy Chairperson.

In addition to Dr. Carr and Ms. Tumahai, the remaining Commissioners are:

• Dr. Harry Clark, a New Zealand expert on agricultural greenhouse gas research
• Dr. Judith Lawrence, a thought leader with international expertise in climate change adaptation
• Ms. Catherine Leining, a leading New Zealand economist on climate policy and emissions pricing systems
• Professor James Renwick, a leading climate scientist and a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Science Prize for Communication
• Professor Nicola Shadbolt, a farmer, company director and academic, with expertise in land use and land-use change.