Independent evidence-based advice required.

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union has written to Simon Watts, Minister of Climate Change, to express deep concern about the government’s apparent consideration of axing the Climate Change Commission's independent provision of advice to the Government on Emissions Reduction Plans.

The letter expresses shock that the cross-party consensus at the time of the establishment of the Climate Change Commission has been broken and makes the point that “governments are typically poor stewards of the environment and climate, and focus on short-term economic priorities rather than long-term impacts. Governments cannot be held accountable by future generations who will inherit the impacts of decisions made in the present.”

“It is of utmost importance that the Government continues to receive independent, evidence-based advice from the Commission on its emissions reduction and adaptation planning.”