BE A CLIMATE VOTER – Resources to help you vote for the climate in the 2023 National Elections

Election time is here and we’re here to help you be a climate voter, and vote for winter. Here’s a whole bunch of resources to make it super easy. Once you’ve voted could you shoulder tap two of your mates to make sure they vote too? Lot’s of young people and kiwis overseas didn’t vote in the last election and they have the possibility of making a big difference in this year’s election.

Remember, a vote for climate is a vote for:
– Public and active transport choices
– Warm, healthy and energy efficient houses
– Urban densification rather than sprawl
– Protection and enhancement of native forest, wetlands and other ecosystems 
– Policies such as a strong ETS that encourage a reduction in pollution
– A just transition for farmers and the agricultural sector
– Climate mitigation AND adaptation plans 
– Incentives for renewable energy projects such as rooftop solar and big industry changes.

Heaps of voting resources to help you be a climate voter:

– Policy.nz – Has categories on housing, environment, transport, taxes and more. Easily compare parties’ policies on things that are important to you, as well as see what MP candidates are prioritising. (note this isn’t ideally organized from a climate perspective you’ll need to look at many of the categories to get a good picture). 
– Vote Compass – Answer a series of questions and prioritise your values. Based on this vote compass will share which parties are more or less aligned with your priorities. 
– 350’s Election scorecards – Parties were asked 36 questions and then scored in 7 areas, including climate. See how they score. 
– Vote For Climate NZ – Simply lets you know which parties are good or bad votes for climate action. Lots of tools for engagement as well. 
– Stuff’s climate election survey – See how the 5 main parties stand on policies to address the climate crisis. Looks lat specific climate policies. 
– Recreation Aotearoa’s Questions to parties. 
– OraTaiao’s election scorecard for climate + health policies. 
– Climate Club’s election guide. 
– Newstalk ZB’s 2023 summary + comparison of parties’ policies on climate change. 
– The Spinoff’s 2 min guide to climate change and the environment this election. 
– NZ Herald’s article on concerning lack of climate action this election. 

The Kaka project’s summary of good climate policies from most parties

– RNZ’s why climate policies are key to reducing the cost of living

Party climate policies in a nutshell:

Green Party – Transport mode shift through planning, infrastructure and road rules, education, behaviour interventions and investment in active transport networks and passenger rail. Set legally binding emission reduction targets across regions and/or sectors. Increase NZ’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the ‘Paris Agreement. Advocate for support of pacific island nations and global climate action. Improve the ETS to reduce gross emissions. End all fossil fuel exploration. Update standards for urban design, construction and infrastructure to reduce emissions, waste and ensure healthy homes. $6000 grant for household solar panels. 

TOP – Regenerate marginal land with native forest. Strengthen the ETS by removing forestry. Electrifying all urban buses by 2030. Reviewing urban planning & development with things like urban greening programs. Climate adaptation measures such as green finance, managed retreat, improving national disaster relief capabilities and making a plan for internal and external climate refugees.
 
Te Pāti Māori – End new onshore oil and gas permits, and decommission current sites by 2030. Ban seabed mining. Establish a fund for Maori-owned community energy projects. Phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser by 2025. Bring Methane into the ETS. Work on a multi-pronged climate adaptation plan. Play a greater role in supporting pasifika leaders on a world stage. Phase out industrial coal burning. 

Labour – Phase out fossil fuels by banning new low and medium temperature coal boilers. Decarbonise public transport by 2035. Support agricultural climate change research programmes. Up to $4000 rebate for installing solar panels. Reduce funding for cycle infrastructure. Establish a minister for just transitions. Reform ETS to drive gross emissions reductions. More EV chargers. Rebates for energy efficiency upgrades to homes. 

National – Delay emissions pricing for the agriculture industry. Scrap the Government investing in Debcarbonising Industry fund (GIDI). Supercharging EV infrastructure. Fund more roads of national significance.  Build better public transport in Auckland and the lower North Island. Remove incentives to buy electric cars. 

Act – Abolish the Zero Carbon Act, the Climate Change Commission, and the Climate Emergency Response Fund. No mention of climate policies on their website. 

NZ First – Invest $100m into transmission upgrades. Connect the railway from Marsden point and Nothpoint. Build a new four lane highway. Repeal the national policy statement on indigenous biodiversity. Establish a ministry for energy and fuel security plan. 

Please note these are brief overviews from looking at the party’s websites. All policies couldn’t be summarised. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like more info or check out their websites yourself. 

Best for climate action summary from the Vote For Climate NZ organisation.