Submissions

Nelson City Annual Plan Consultation

OraTaiao submission, 6 May 2020

The food system is a major contributor to ill health and many of the environmental challenges facing us nationally and globally. In New Zealand, food production contributes about half of the country’s total climate pollution. Both central and local government have significant parts to play in addressing the urgent transformation that is now needed in the way we produce and consume food. Cities are increasingly recognising this around the world.

Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

Written by
May 08, 2020

  • Nelson City Annual Plan Consultation

    OraTaiao submission, 6 May 2020

    The food system is a major contributor to ill health and many of the environmental challenges facing us nationally and globally. In New Zealand, food production contributes about half of the country’s total climate pollution. Both central and local government have significant parts to play in addressing the urgent transformation that is now needed in the way we produce and consume food. Cities are increasingly recognising this around the world.

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    May 08, 2020

  • Emissions Trading Reform

    OraTaiao submission, 17 January 2020

    It is encouraging to see a cap on emissions units, a sinking lid mechanism and the phasing out of industrial allocation of free units incorporated into the draft Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Reform) Amendment Bill.

    "We remain concerned however about the ongoing delay in integration of agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme, the slow phase down of free units to industry and the lack of a mechanism to recycle revenue from the sale of New Zealand Units to support a low carbon transition for those most likely to be impacted by the changes - low income, Māori and Pacific households."

    Read full submission here (PDF). This submission is endorsed by the New Zealand Medical Association, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa / New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), the Public Health Association of New Zealand, and the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine.

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    January 20, 2020

  • Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill

    OraTaiao submission, 11 December 2019

    "The significance of climate disruption for the mental health and well-being of those alive today and for future generations simply cannot be ignored. A focus on the climate crisis thus needs to be highlighted in legislation defining the Commission’s role."

    Read full submission here.

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    December 12, 2019

  • Healthy Food and Drink Guidance survey

    OraTaiao submission to Ministry of Health, 8 November 2019

    "Healthy eating, including increased intake of plant-based foods and less consumption of red meat and animal fat (particularly highly processed animal products), would both help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to significant improvements in health. This also aligns with the targets for New Zealand to have net zero carbon emissions and reduced methane emissions by 2050."

    Read full submission here (PDF).

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    November 08, 2019

  • Review of KiwiSaver default provider arrangements

    OraTaiao submission to Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, 17 September 2019

    "We would like the government to take steps to ensure all default KiwiSaver providers are divested from the fossil fuel industry (companies involved in the exploration, extraction, refining, processing and burning of fossil fuels)."

    Read full submission here (PDF).

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    September 20, 2019

  • Zero Carbon Bill

    OraTaiao submission on the Zero Carbon Bill - Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act, 15 July 2019

    "We welcome the Bill, which is not only crucial to reducing New Zealand emissions, but is also among our generation’s most important pieces of health legislation. OraTaiao, alongside other experts in climate change and health, strongly believes that tackling climate change is potentially the greatest global health opportunity of the century. Our submission is focused on the potential health gains and the other co-benefits that can result from well-designed strategies to reduce New Zealand’s emissions...

    "We have major concerns, however, that the Bill: does not adequately embed health and health equity; does not adequately incorporate the benefits, costs, and risks of climate action; fails to make adequate provision for meeting the government’s obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi; fails to demonstrate true domestic and international leadership on greenhouse gas reduction targets; lacks enforceability mechanisms that are necessary to ensure that greenhouse gas targets are met."

    Read the submission here (PDF).

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    July 16, 2019

  • Submit on the Zero Carbon Bill

    Help put health at the heart of the bill!

    The Government is consulting on the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill. The bill needs to be strengthened and to explicitly reference health, health equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    We encourage you to make a submission as an individual or on behalf of your organisation. Closing date for submissions is 16 July 2019. 

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    June 26, 2019

  • Government procurement guidelines - 4th edition

    OraTaiao submission, 5 March 2019

    'Climate change is increasingly recognised as the biggest global health threat of the 21st Century, as well as the greatest opportunity to improve health. As senior doctors, nurses and other health professionals, we are advocating on behalf of our patients and communities. One of our strategic priorities is to: “Demonstrate leadership in achieving a climate-resilient net zero emissions health sector”.'

    'Procurement contracts are a powerful tool to leverage action on climate change and as New Zealand is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, the success of New Zealand’s obligations will hinge on precisely such measures as government procurement rules.'

    Read the submission here (PDF).

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    March 05, 2019

  • Submit on government procurement rules!

    The Government is consulting on its procurement rules, which affect the $41 billion it spends each year buying goods and services from third party suppliers. Procurement contracts are a powerful tool to leverage action on climate change.

    Please take the time to submit on the proposed changes.

    Consultation closes at 5pm on Tuesday 5 March 2019.

    Click here to complete online, and read more below on how to submit and suggested submission points.

     

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    February 22, 2019

  • Improvements to the Emissions Trading Scheme

    OraTaiao submission, 24 September 2018

    'We support the government’s intention to act with urgency and improve the ETS. We are, however, concerned by the highly technical nature of the consultation documents. We consider that currently, input is severely constrained from those who will bear not only the impacts of climate change, but also the impacts of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. The ETS is complex, but because of the far-reaching implications for New Zealanders, it’s essential that every effort is madeto widen this discussion. We consider it essential that there is a clear statement of the principles upon which the ETS is based, and that this is developed with due democratic process.

    'Our greatest concerns are firstly, that the ETS continues to fail to deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions because not all sectors are included, and/or because there is a weak pricingmechanism and/or there is no “sinking lid” on the number of units being auctioned. Secondly, weare concerned that the ETS will increase social and health inequities – this issue can be mitigated through good recycling of revenue to support a low-carbon transition for low-income, Māori andPacific households. Thirdly, we are concerned about corruption in the ETS process, through the purchasing of overseas credits.'

    Read full submission here (PDF).

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    September 25, 2018