This is the Carbon News guide to ‘climate election’ guides for 2023.

Vote for Climate has a “best and worst” overall rating of the larger parties, while its affiliated organisation, Climate Club, has a more in-depth 2023 Election Guide, including a section to “amplify your impact” and a separate guide to “asking politicians the hard questions” at local election meetings.

Election Scorecards, put together by a group including ActionStation, 350 Aotearoa, and Renters United, are based on whether the major parties support “36 key policy interventions needed to respond to the social and environmental crises facing Aotearoa”.

Stuff has published a comprehensive “one-stop shop” to compare the major parties’ climate plans.

OraTaiao: NZ Climate & Health Council, has a scorecard rating political parties' policies on climate change and health.

The Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa has a series entitled “Where do the Parties Stand?” which touches on climate issues including:

• A low carbon, healthy transport system
• Long-term thinking and catastrophic risks
• Protecting water sources and drinking water quality

Meanswhile, 15,000 people have signed the Climate Shift petition, calling on all political parties to commit to a ten-point plan for climate action, while the Sustainable Business Council and Climate Leaders Coalition put out a pre-election briefing paper in April, with detailed recommendations for the incoming government to accelerate emissions reductions and address adaptation. 

But some of the biggest parties’ climate policies could be described as underwhelming at best. 

With the latest Ipsos Poll showing climate has dropped in the rankings - it’s now seen as the sixth most important issue facing New Zealanders, equal with concerns about the cost of petrol - it seems the majority of Kiwis might have other issues at front of mind when they make their selections on polling day.

That said, 21% of New Zealanders polled still rated it as one of the three most important issues facing the country. Politicians are putting themselves - not to mention all of us - in a perilous situation if they don’t show leadership on this existential issue.