Priorities for the Environment Portfolio

Tackling the problems


			If we are to close the gap between image and reality, we need all New Zealanders working on the solutions. While New Zealand is better off than many other countries, and has some good work already under way, we must do more, faster and on a wider scale to make real progress. And we must come up with innovative solutions for our more intractable problems. I have asked the Ministry for the Environment to review the following four areas: Community Action How do we best promote environmental awareness and action in the community through long-term communication and education programmes? Examples include more consultation with the wider community (for example, through the Rio+10 community programme), youth projects and environmental education. Environmental legislation and institutions How do we improve the operation of our legislation and institutions? I want to look at four key areas: better integrating management of waste and hazardous substances – in particular, reviewing whether the emphasis on ‘environmental effects’ leads to the most efficient and practical resource management encouraging alternative dispute resolution rather than litigation, including reviewing the role of the Environment Court in appeals on plans promoting national policy, consistency and standards – developing other mechanisms under the Resource Management Act (eg, codes of practice) considering alternative institutions to improve capacity and leadership at the national level, for example, an environmental protection agency. Business innovation and bio-economy How do we create new approaches to encourage environmental innovation in business? How do we ‘tip the playing field’ for those willing to embrace sustainable development? Measuring progress and performance How do we best monitor environmental results and the performance of local and central government agencies? What incentives will encourage councils and other agencies to meet the Government’s overall environmental objectives?