6. Question No. 6—Climate ChangeHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour—Wigram) to the Acting Minister of Climate ChangeQuestion No. 6—Climate Change6. Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Labour—Wigram) to the Acting Minister of Climate Change: Does he agree with the Prime Minister who said we are very confident we can grow the economy and deliver on our emissions targets and goals" and if so how is this consistent with the Climate Change Commission's independent finding released yesterday that "there are significant risks to meeting the second and third … budgets"?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS (Acting Minister of Climate Change): On behalf of the Minister of Climate Change yes I agree with the Prime Minister. We welcome the Commission's advice but note it is based on older data and does not take into account the Government's draft emissions reduction plan No. 2.Hon Dr Megan Woods: What are specific initiatives and what are their emissions implications that have been introduced since the data used in this report was closed off?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: The data in the report from the commissioner lacked the information that was in our second emissions plan and so he was not able to use that information. You'll see a number of our plans for agriculture for transport and for other policies that have been included in that plan that's been consulted on.Hon Dr Megan Woods: What replacement policies will his Government put in place for industrial decarbonisation to put us back on track to meeting emissions targets given the now scrapped Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund is expected to deliver projects that would account for 17 percent of total emissions reductions in the first budget and 35 percent of emissions reductions planned in the second emissions budget?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: On behalf of the Minister of Climate Change of course the previous Government had a different plan to what this Government has. The previous Government was intent upon spending on corporate welfare. This Government is spending $2.6 billion on various climate initiatives.Hon Dr Megan Woods: Is he concerned that the Climate Commission's analysis shows that the scrapping of the Clean Car Discount and agricultural emissions pricing have elevated the risk of not meeting the first emissions budget which under the previous Government we were on track to meet?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: On behalf of the Minister of Climate Change the Government is on track to deliver the first two emissions budgets. We are investing in electric vehicle charges and we are investing in low-emissions public transport. The commissioner's report did not have this data available.Hon Dr Megan Woods: Will he advocate to retain the ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration given backtracking on this policy could according to the commission potentially impact our ability to meet emissions budgets and the 2050 targets?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: On behalf of the Minister of Climate Change we are on track to deliver the second emissions budget which takes into account reversing the oil and gas ban. As we know gas is a transitional fuel. We are not going to let the lights go out in New Zealand.Hon Dr Megan Woods: Does the Minister think it is fair that emissions prices may need to rise upwards of $300 a tonne according to the commission's report if the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is left to function on its own without complementary policies in transport energy and agriculture and if so what would the impact of this be on New Zealand households and their budget given the analysis shows that raising the ETS price to $200 a tonne would add 40c a litre to petrol?Hon PENNY SIMMONDS: On behalf of the Minister of Climate Change it would be inappropriate for me to comment on ETS pricing."