Carbon News
  • Members
    • Login
      Forgot Password?
    • Not a member? Subscribe
    • Forgot Password
      Back to Login
    • Not a member? Subscribe
  • Home
  • New Zealand
    • Politics
    • Energy
    • Agriculture
    • Carbon emissions
    • Transport
    • Forestry
    • Business
  • Markets
    • Analysis
    • NZ carbon price
  • International
    • Australia
    • United States
    • China
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Canada
    • Asia
    • Pacific
    • Antarctic/Arctic
    • Africa
    • South America
    • United Nations
  • News Direct
    • Media releases
    • Climate calendar
  • About Carbon News
    • Contact us
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Service
    • Policies

New reports highlight NZ’s opportunity to boost climate finance

29 Aug 2024


Media release | Two new reports reveal how New Zealand can meet its climate finance obligations ahead of COP29. 

Humanitarian agencies World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa, alongside the New Zealand Climate Action Network (NZCAN), have released two important climate finance reports today. 

 

These reports are published during the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga and ahead of the United Nations climate change conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the New Zealand government will be participating in negotiations on climate finance to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation measures 

 

Doing Our Fair Share: New Zealand’s Responsibility to Provide Climate Finance, is published today by World Vision New Zealand and Oxfam Aotearoa. 

 

"Our report highlights New Zealand’s responsibility to bolster its climate finance support for communities on the frontlines of climate change in the Pacific" says co-author, World Vision’s Advocacy Policy and Research Advisor, Dr Olivia Yates. 

 

"As climate change intensifies, those communities least responsible are paying the highest price. Children and their families who are facing the most severe impacts often live in poverty, unable to afford the necessary tools to switch to greener, more climate-resilient livelihoods and prepare for future unprecedented extreme weather," she says. 

 

Co-Author, Oxfam Aotearoa’s Climate Justice Lead Dr Nick Henry says "New Zealand’s climate finance is helping to build resilience for Pacific communities on the frontlines of climate change. The need for support will only increase in the coming years and New Zealand should continue to stand with the Pacific and be ready to contribute our fair share." 

 

The report reveals that to meet its fair share of climate finance, New Zealand should be contributing between 0.38% and 0.66% of the global climate goal, which currently equates to between NZ$558 million and NZ$953 million each year, based on our gross national income (GNI) and historic greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, New Zealand is only fulfilling 34% to 58% of this target. 

 

The report shows that, although New Zealand’s climate finance falls short by over NZ$200 million, its funding has been steadily increasing. In the next funding round (2026-2030), New Zealand has a fresh opportunity to show global leadership by committing to provide a fair share of climate finance. 

 

Dr Olivia Yates hopes the report will encourage the government to take seriously the need for ambitious climate finance in its upcoming climate finance decisions. "While all countries must act on climate change, higher-income countries like New Zealand should pay their ‘fair share’ of the bill for climate action, based on their higher historical emissions and financial capability."

 

Climate finance involves funding to support lower-income countries to cover the costs of shifting to greener systems, adapting to our warming world, and dealing with losses and damages from extreme weather - all vital for a response to climate change that leaves no one behind.

 

Seizing the Moment: A New Climate Finance Goal That Delivers for the Pacific, by Climate Action Networks (CAN) in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, calls on the New Zealand Government to stand with the Pacific and commit to new funding aligned with a stronger global goal on climate finance, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), to be set at COP29 this November.

 

The NCQG is set to replace the prior US$100 billion (NZ$146 billion) annual global goal, a promise made by higher-income nations in 2010 to provide at least US$100 billion annually for climate change adaptation and mitigation each year.

 

Dr Nick Henry, Climate Justice Lead at Oxfam Aotearoa and co-author on the CAN report, says that funding to-date has been far from fair. 

 

"The previous $100 billion goal was largely met in 2022 through loans and redirected development assistance, exacerbating debt burdens in lower-income countries. Countries on the frontlines of climate change now spend more paying debts than they receive in aid."

 

The CAN report calls for a global target of at least US$1 trillion per year (NZ$1.46 trillion), prioritising grants over loans, to adequately support those hit hardest by climate change.

 

"At COP29, New Zealand has an opportunity to stand with the Pacific and advocate for a stronger, fairer climate finance target," he says.

 

"New Zealand should commit to its fair share of the refreshed global goal, retaining its emphasis on grants instead of loans, and in addition to current aid efforts, to show enduring support, leadership, and a commitment to equity."

 

As COP29 approaches, New Zealand has the opportunity-and the responsibility-to increase its fair share of climate finance and stand with the Pacific to ensure a fairer and more sustainable future for people most affected by climate change. Countries on the frontlines are urging global action, and New Zealand must rise to the challenge.

 

Note:

 

New Zealand’s fair share of climate finance has been calculated by looking at the country’s share of responsibility for climate change (based on the country’s cumulative emissions of greenhouse gases since 1992 and since 1850) and its ability to pay (according to its Gross National Income) relative to other higher-income ("Annex II") countries.

print this story


Related Topics:   Green finance United Nations

More >
Media releases
More >

State of the Environment report: Auckland is improving in part but big challenges lie ahead

Today 10:30am

Media release: Auckland Council | Auckland’s environment is showing green shoots of recovery, yet many of our ecosystems are still in trouble.

The ozone hole continues to recover thanks to international action

Wed 17 Sep 2025

Media release: World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | The Earth’s protective ozone layer is healing and the ozone hole in 2024 was smaller than in recent years, according to a new report.

Solar and battery systems to boost resilience at Tasman community facilities

Tue 16 Sep 2025

Media release: Tasman District Council | Ten community facilities across Tasman District will soon be equipped with solar panels and battery storage, following confirmation of co-funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Patrick Moynahan, CEO of Echo Tech

Echo Tech secures growth investment to tackle NZ's e-waste crisis

Mon 15 Sep 2025

Media release | Echo Tech Limited, New Zealand’s leading provider of e-waste recycling and IT asset recovery services, is proud to announce a strategic investment from growth equity firm Altered Capital.

Award-winning American investigative climate journalist Amy Westervelt

New courses focus on climate action, activism and creating vision

Fri 12 Sep 2025

Media release | Dark Times Academy’s final lineup of courses for 2025, launching in mid-September, will focus on taking action on climate, learning about practical activism, and creating visions for the future.

Ara Ake backs 13 projects to unlock NZ’s energy flexibility

11 Sep 2025

Media release | Ara Ake has approved over $600,000 in funding from the National Flex Discovery Fund for 13 flexibility service providers (FSPs).

Review calls for streamlined standards to unlock distributed energy potential in Aotearoa New Zealand

10 Sep 2025

Media release – Electricity Engineers’ Association | A recent electricity industry report finds significant variability in technical standards across 29 electricity distributors, hindering integration of solar, batteries, and electric vehicles.

NPDC funds empowering community-led initiatives towards greener future

9 Sep 2025

Media release – New Plymouth District Council | If you have a project that aims to reduce emissions and waste or boost the number of native plants across the district, you could be eligible for funding through one of NPDC’s environmental funds.

New research reveals our passion and blind spots when it comes to nature

9 Sep 2025

Media release – Department of Conservation | New research reveals New Zealanders care deeply about nature and want to help but aren’t aware of the scale of challenges nature is up against.

Metlink’s AI generated impression of a hybrid train.

All Aboard: New electric trains for Lower North Island

8 Sep 2025

Media release - Minister of Transport | Government’s $802.9 million investment into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines has now reached a major milestone, with Greater Wellington Regional Council today signing a contract for a new fleet of 18 battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) trains, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

Carbon News

Subscriptions, Advertising & General

[email protected]

Editorial

[email protected]

We welcome comments, news tips and suggestions - please also use this address to submit all media releases for News Direct).

Useful Links
Home About Carbon News Contact us Advertising Subscribe Service Policies
New Zealand
Politics Energy Agriculture Carbon emissions Transport Forestry Business
International
Australia United States China Europe United Kingdom Canada Asia Pacific Antarctic/Arctic Africa South America United Nations
Home
Markets
Analysis NZ carbon price
News Direct
Media releases Climate calendar

© 2008-2025 Carbon News. All Rights Reserved. • Your IP Address: 216.73.216.122 • User account: Sign In

Please wait...
Audit log: