EDS supports PCE review of Environment Aotearoa
EDS welcomes the release of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s review of New Zealand’s first national environmental report in 9 years
In October 2015 Environment Aotearoa was released by the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand. It was the first synthesis report in the new reporting regime under the Environmental Reporting Act 2015.
An important part of the new regime is the independent oversight role of the Parliamentary Commissioner.
Dr Jan Wright has offered a range of recommendations to improve future reporting, including better prioritisation of key issues and reporting that outlines clear responses to the main problems areas that the reports identify.
“The ongoing review of these reports is a crucial check and balance on environmental reporting in New Zealand, and we welcome the report from the Parliamentary Commissioner and support her recommendations,” said Dr Marie Brown, EDS Senior Policy Analyst.
“Most particularly we endorse the need for a further report from the Ministry for the Environment outlining responses to the issues raised by the Commissioner, to ensure that our law and policy is adaptive and fit for purpose over time.
“As Dr Wright infers, we have some very challenging times ahead in Aotearoa, and considered policy responses have never been more important. We have problems with freshwater quality, pest management, erosion and oceans acidification as well as the implications of climate change to deal with.
“EDS congratulates the Parliamentary Commissioner on the release of the commentary, and looks forward to future iterations of reporting that implement the suggested changes,” concluded Dr Brown.
ENDS