10. Question No. 10—Climate ChangeGOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green) to the Minister for Climate ChangeQuestion No. 10—Climate Change10. GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN (Green) to the Minister for Climate Change: What progress if any has been made implementing the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister for Climate Change): Today I was delighted to announce that we have fulfilled one of the key requirements of the zero carbon Act—that is the establishment of the Climate Change Commission. Six new climate change commissioners have been appointed under this Act that the House passed without opposition. These commissioners will provide the expert trusted and independent advice that will be essential to ensuring that New Zealand plays its part in solving the challenge of climate change. They will pick up the work started by the Interim Climate Change Committee which was appointed in May 2018. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Interim Climate Change Committee for their hard work for their analytical honesty and their rigour. What they have achieved in such a short period of time will have a lasting impact on the future of climate policy.Golriz Ghahraman: Who are the commissioners and what skills do they bring to the commission?Hon JAMES SHAW: The Act requires that commissioners have relevant technical and professional skills experience and expertise including Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Māori. The House will recall that I announced in October that Dr Rod Carr had been appointed as chair designate for the Climate Change Commission. The six commissioners who will now join him are experts in the field of climate science adaptation agriculture economics and the Māori-Crown relationship. They are Ms Lisa Tumahai who has been a member of the Interim Climate Change Committee and I'm delighted to say will continue in her role as deputy chair; Dr Harry Clark a New Zealand expert on agricultural greenhouse gas research and also a member of the interim committee; Dr Judith Lawrence a thought leader with international expertise in climate change adaptation; Ms Catherine Leining a leading New Zealand economist on climate policy; Professor James Renwick a leading climate scientist; and Professor Nicola Shadbolt a farmer company director and academic with expertise in land use and land use change.Golriz Ghahraman: What opportunity will New Zealanders have to inform the work of the commission?Hon JAMES SHAW: In addition to the fact that the commission is required by law to consult widely my hope is that it will also appoint a number of advisory committees to support its work. This will complement the skills and perspectives of the commissioners and will provide a space for New Zealanders such as the scientific community Māori and young people to have their say. At the launch event for the commission earlier today I was joined by a number of stakeholders who wanted not only to meet the new commission but also to celebrate with us this important step that we have taken to solve the climate change challenge and make our communities safer and healthier.Golriz Ghahraman: What feedback has he received from other countries about the zero carbon Act? Hon JAMES SHAW: Last week I was in Madrid for the annual international climate change negotiations. I was approached by representatives from a number of countries from around the world who are thinking about putting in place their own—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Settle. Hon JAMES SHAW: —climate change legislation and they are using our zero carbon Act—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Must have strong winds. SPEAKER: Order! The member's drowning him out. Hon JAMES SHAW: —as a benchmark for what meaningful ambitious and lasting climate change action looks like. What I shared with them is how with bipartisan support this Government has set a framework for climate action and put targets in place and has established a commission that will now give us independent expert and non-political advice on what our carbon budgets should be and the plan that we need to meet them. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Just on the question of bipartisan support did what we just hear across the House sound like bipartisan support? SPEAKER: Order! Order! Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well it's a fair question. SPEAKER: The member has no responsibility—this Minister has no responsibility for either the noise or the interpretation of it.