Environmental Management in a New Zealand Context - Term Paper Example

Environmental Management in a New Zealand Context Teacher               Environmental Management in a New Zealand Context ExecutiveSummary The Introduction focuses on the past, present and future drivers of environmental management in New Zealand. Moreover, it lists the various events in the past that contributed to the building of environmental awareness in the country. The Major Players section lists the various local, national and international organizations that play a major role in the management of the natural resources in New Zealand. These organizations are concerned with various aspects of the country such as the energy sector, the flora and fauna, the land area, and the water and air resources. The last section, Successes, Challenges and Conclusions, lists the obstacles that New Zealand faces at the moment as well as what people expect the country needs in order to attain a better future in terms of environmental management. The major players when it comes to environmental management in New Zealand include those advisory bodies as well as administrative agencies that are in charge of at least one aspect of environmental policy concerning the environment, the government departments that manage and carry out environmental protection for the purpose of developing the economy, and the government departments that are tasked to manage and develop the country’s natural resources. The local and regional agencies are all doing their best in order to fulfill the requirements of the various policies governing environmental management in New Zealand. However, the major challenge that the country is facing is basically the fact that New Zealand has not fulfilled the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol when it comes to the volume of emissions between 1990 and 2010. The country is therefore challenged to sign up to a second commitment from 2013 to 2020 in order to do better and hopefully comply with the standards this time. Introduction New Zealand is currently utilizing environmental policies that concern not only the New Zealand public but also the global community. Presently, the concerns of the public include environmental planning processes such as the approval of resource consents in every region and district of the country. Global concerns, on the other hand, are usually expressed through international discussions that conclude in treaties or other agreements that necessitate the adoption of certain policies or the modification of existing laws (Environmental Management in New Zealand, 2014). In the 1950s and 1960s, several new laws and responsibilities were introduced to New Zealand such as the Wildlife Act of 1953. Several new national parks were also established during this time. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were campaigns against hydro development, the air pollution at Christchurch, the clearfelling of a number of forests, whaling, nuclear testing, and water pollution in several harbors and beaches. Thus, new laws were consequently implemented in the 1970s from the Clean Air Act of 1972 to the National Development Act of 1979 (Environmental Management in New Zealand, 2014). In the 1980s, there has been international influence over the environmental affairs of New Zealand starting out with its affiliation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or the OECD. There was also participation in international summits such as the Second Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro held in 1992. From 1984, the country was faced with economic difficulties due to severe borrowing and so there was a call for a more efficient economy as well as joint efforts of the economic and environmental sectors in improving themselves (Environmental Management in New Zealand, 2014). Beginning in the 1940s, environmental awareness among the citizens of New Zealand seeped slowly into the consciousness of the nation. During this time, laws were passed and management responsibilities were allocated to various agencies, local authorities, committees and councils. This somehow began with the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act of 1941 and was followed by the formulation of other laws and the institution of other government agencies such as the Soil and Water Division of the Ministry of Works and Development, the National Water and Soil Conservation Organization, and the establishment of government subsidies in order to finance local landowners to be able to carry out flood protection, drainaige and soils controversies (Environmental Management in New Zealand, 2014). Presently, the government of New Zealand is cooperating not only with the national ministries but also with international organizations with which the country is affiliated. Much of the future drivers for environmental management therefore include joint cooperation among the citizens, the government of New Zealand and the major players of environmental management. The agencies that play a major role in the management of the environment in New Zealand include the advisory bodies and administrative agencies whose concern is primarily one aspect of environmental policy that governs the country. Another group includes the government departments and administrative agencies whose responsibilities somehow concern the development of a particular aspect of the economy. Thirdly, there are government departments as well as administrative agencies that manage the natural resources of New Zealand. Together, these agencies work hand in hand in order to ensure that the environmental resources of the country are managed well (Environmental Management in New Zealand, 2014). The Major Players The primary players when it comes to environmental management in New Zealand are the local and regional government units. Local and regional government units are tasked to instruct their staff to integrate consideration of climate change into their planning and assessment activities. Nevertheless, there is no need to address climate change in every endeavor that the local and regional governments are trying to address. Moreover, the local and regional government staff should learn how to prioritize climate change in their activities and timetable, and they can do this if they focus only on significant functions and services for which climate change may have a material or important effect. Lastly, for every function or service that the local and regional governments are involved in, the staff should always begin with a straightforward initial screening analysis that makes use of simple estimates of climate factors. There is basically no need to elaborate on such data unless it is needed for a purpose. Through these means, both the local and regional governments in New Zealand have done their best in order to maintain the stability of the environment in the country (Chapter 4: Effects on Local Government Functions and Services, 2014). The New Zealand Conservation Authority, or NZCA, is one of the primary major players in the management of the environment in New Zealand. The NZCA has the role of advising the Minister of Conservation regarding conservation planning and policy development that concerns the management of public conservation areas. More specifically, the NZCA approves the statutory strategies and plans that have the same objective of environmental management. Moreover, the purpose of this particular major player is to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the country by implementing the National Parks and Reserves Act and the Conservation Act of 1987 (New Zealand Conservation Authority, 2014). New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment is another agency that is highly instrumental in the protection of the environment in New Zealand although it plays a rather minor role in it. The ministry is in charge of shaping and delivering a strong economy for New Zealand. Therefore, it is tasked to deliver services, policy, advice and regulation in order to support business growth and economic prosperity for all citizens of New Zealand. In order to achieve this, the ministry administers all legislation and regulations that have a potential impact on the economy of New Zealand, including the environmental sector (Natural resources, 2014). The environmental sector is crucial in the development of the economy of the country. In fact, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment is responsible for the development of the renewable and non-renewable energy resource industry. Such a mix of energy options makes New Zealand have the potential to have lower emissions in the future and to gain higher economic growth as a consequence. Moreover, the ministry is also in charge of legislations of resources that potentially affect the economy such as oil, gas and mineral resources. The Crown Minerals Act is actually one of the legislations managed by the ministry in order to strengthen the management of the country’s oil, mineral and gas reserves. The ministry also prepares current data reports for the energy sector including both renewable and non-renewable energy resources (Natural resources, 2014). Another major organization that plays a key role in the development and protection of the natural resources of New Zealand is the Department of Conservation. In fact, the department is in charge of identifying common needs of various natural resource groups and is responsible for improving the coordination among these organizations (Natural Resource Group GIS network, 2014). The Department of Conservation is also in charge of identifying opportunities for these organizations to form community partnerships as well as projects that could benefit the environmental or natural resources of New Zealand in the long run (Natural Resource Group GIS network, 2014). The Ministry for Primary Industries is another government agency that is also a key role player in the management of environmental resources in New Zealand. The ministry is tasked to “grow and protect” New Zealand (Ministry for Primary Industries, 2014). This is usually accomplished in many ways. One is through the maximization of the export opportunities of the primary industries of New Zealand. Although this is primarily done for the economic sector, the maximization of export opportunities requires the care and maintenance of the natural resources of New Zealand that are supposed to be used for export. Moreover, the growth and protection of New Zealand also requires increasing the use of sustainable resources and the protection of New Zealand from any form of biological risk. The goal is for the maximization of the delivery of high-quality services and support for others, both local and foreign consumers (Ministry for Primary Industries, 2014). However, in order to fulfill this purpose, the ministry should facilitate the institution of particular programs like the irrigation acceleration fund and the sustainable farming fund, the purpose of which is to optimize activities like irrigation and farming in order to carry out these tasks while at the same time preserving the natural resources that had to be preserved (Ministry for Primary Industries, 2014). The Environmental Protection Authority, or EPA, is another organization that plays a major role in the protection and preservation of natural resources. This agency of the government basically facilitates the applications of major infrastructure projects in order to regulate the production of hazardous substances as well as the regulation and protection of new organisms, including those genetically modified (Welcome to the Environmental Protection Authority, 2014). The EPA also manages the environmental impact of activities in the country, particularly in the Exclusive Economic Zone, or EEZ. This includes the search for new sources of minerals and petroleum as well as scientific research and seismic surveying. Moreover, the organization is also responsible for the administration of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the New Zealand Emission Unit Register. Moreover, the EPA is sensitive to the needs and perspectives of the Maori regarding any decision made in the context of the environment. Furthermore, the EPA is responsible for the approval of new plant and animal organisms that can be used without harming the environment (Welcome to the Environmental Protection Authority, 2014). Under the Environment Act, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Government is tasked to investigate environmental issues, public agencies and processes. The Commissioner must provide the Parliament of New Zealand with advice in their consideration of matters that may have any bearing or impact on the quality of the environment, particularly that of the natural resources. Based on the 2013 Annual Report of the Parliamentary Commissioner, this is tasked to investigate some noteworthy environmental issues (Current Investigations, 2014). In fact, it is the task of the commission to label environmental issues as irreversible, cumulative or accelerating, and priority should be given depending on the interplay or a combination of two or all of the three types of environmental problems. In the case of climate change, it is classified as all of the three types. Furthermore, the commission also receives information, suggestions and complaints from the public, and acts on some of the most urgent ones while giving due attention to the ones which are not that serious. Moreover, the commission is also responsible for assessing the level of preparedness of New Zealand vis-à-vis ongoing climate change and other environmental issues. The office of the commissioner also has the primary goal of dealing with resource management and freshwater management. In short, in order to achieve this, the commission uses the Resource Management Act, or the RMA, as the basis (Current Investigations, 2014). The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, or the EECA, is the government agency that tries to improve the efficiency of energy use as applied to the homes of citizens of New Zealand. In fact, the EECA works directly with businesses in order for them to become more productive and more sensitive to the issues of energy. The goal of having efficient energy is believed by the EECA to result in certain positive consequences such as export competitiveness, business productivity, well-being of New Zealand citizens, reduced costs of production, and improved health (About EECA, 2014). Moreover, the EECA is highly instrumental in providing citizens with information as to how energy should be utilized more wisely as well as the other positive benefits of such actions. The EECA therefore publishes materials for New Zealanders relative to the aims of the organization (About EECA, 2014). In the efforts to consume energy more efficiently, the EECA not only conserves energy resources but also finds a way to make the air clean for all living species. The Ministry of the Environment is another government agency with a primary role in the management of New Zealand’s environmental resources. The ministry is in charge of the balance between the environment and the economy and of maintaining this balance or relationship. The ministry also administers environmental legislation as well as provides well-considered policy advice that is founded on theory and evidence (Working at the Ministry, 2014). Moreover, the programs team of the ministry is responsible for delivering a variety of projects aimed at environmental management. The 300-member Environment House in Wellington is made up of people who know how environmental policies work, how human resources are allocated, and how the environment should be managed while maintaining communications, human resources, legal, and financial support. Furthermore, the Ministry for the Environment is also aimed at increasing the willingness of the society to change for the better, to provide the public with credible information, and to coordinate with other agencies in the community in order to preserve the environment (Working at the Ministry, 2014). The Treasury is another major player in the conservation and preservation of natural resources in New Zealand. The Treasury’s main goal is to ensure higher living standards for every New Zealand citizen. Such an aim borders on encouraging improvement in terms of trust, health, education and environmental quality (Affording our Future, 2014). Therefore, the Treasury ensures high living standards of every citizen but in the process, the organization helps in the protection of the environment and the responsible utilization of natural resources. Specifically, this means ensuring plentiful and clean water, productive soil and a climate well-suited to New Zealand citizens. In order to ensure quality life for all, the Treasury indirectly helps in the preservation of natural resources (Affording our Future, 2014). Another one of the local major players in environmental management in New Zealand is the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, or NIWA. NIWA is tasked to conduct leading research in environmental science in order to ensure sustainable management of natural resources not only in New Zealand but also in the rest of the world. Basically, the organization promotes innovation, fosters teamwork and formulates creative solutions to current problems involving natural resources in the country, particularly water and air problems. NIWA also encourages and promotes a healthy environmental awareness as well as a deep social responsibility among the citizens of New Zealand. Currently, NIWA is helping New Zealand in the management of its freshwater resources. The science directed by NIWA focuses on “how much, where and when freshwater is available” as well as its consequences on the environment (Enhancing the Benefits, 2013). Moreover, NIWA is also committed to managing the marine estate of New Zealand. It does so by helping in the development of a National Oceans Strategy – something that integrates geology, geophysics, hydrography, fisheries, biosecurity and many other areas of science in order to maintain the integrity and biodiversity of the marine ecosystem while increasing economic returns from the use of marine resources. Furthermore, NIWA is subdivided into various branches like the National Center for Coasts and Oceans for undertaking research and assessment of marine ecosystems, the National Center for Environmental Information for monitoring the environment, and the National Fisheries Center for assessing international fisheries and monitoring its activities. There is also the National Center for Freshwater and Estuaries, which monitors and provides advice related to the maintenance of water quality (Enhancing the Benefits, 2013). Internationally, the Kyoto Protocol is another major player in the management of natural resources in New Zealand. The Kyoto Protocol was a treaty that was negotiated in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997 but was only enforced on February 16, 2005. The Kyoto Protocol had the aim of reducing the collective emissions of greenhouse gases in several industrialized countries. Moreover, the goal is “to lower overall emissions from six greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide [and] sulfur hexafluoride (The Kyoto Protocol, 2014). Moreover, the Kyoto Protocol affects New Zealand in such a way that the country is a party to the protocol. The obligations of New Zealand to the Kyoto Protocol include the submission of an annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions to be addressed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or the UNFCCC, the formulation and implementation of regular updates to national and regional programs, and international cooperation with regards to scientific and technical research, the development of public awareness, and giving the public access to information on climate change. Initially, New Zealand was committed to the reduction of its greenhouse gas, but the latest greenhouse gas inventory showed that the total emissions in the country between 1990 and 2010 have increased (The Kyoto Protocol, 2014). The ISO 14000 family of environmental management systems addresses various aspects of managing the environment. These provide practical tools for companies, organizations and governments in order for them to be able to control and handle environmental impact as well as improve their performance when it comes to the environment. Specifically, the ISO14001 focuses on environmental management systems and has also been adopted by New Zealand. Through the ISO14001, the country was able to reduce the cost of waste management, as well as save on consumption of energy and distribution costs (ISO14000: Environmental Management, 2014). Successes, Challenges and Conclusions New Zealand may be facing several problems in the management of its natural resources nowadays. The OECD report particularly singled out waste management as well as the lack of a better assessment of environmental data vis-à-vis the use of the RMA. There are also plenty of other challenges in terms of other areas like the conservation of marine and freshwater resources. Nevertheless, some degree of success has already been achieved through the technical assistance of the various major players that have been constantly monitoring and maintaining the state of the natural resources of New Zealand. The energy sector, marine and freshwater resources as well as flora and fauna of the country have in fact already been taken into consideration by the various major players of environmental management. The Kyoto Protocol also posed as a challenge to New Zealand beginning in 2002. Although the government has fulfilled the requirements set by the UNFCCC, and although the country has already complied with the formulation and implementation of regular updates to regional and national programs when it comes to climate change and measures, the latest greenhouse inventory of New Zealand is still an increase in the total emissions between1990 and 2010. This means a failure of the first commitment. Furthermore, this also means that from the period of 2013 to 2020, New Zealand is tasked to sign up to and comply with the requirements of a Second Commitment Period under the Kyoto Protocol (The Kyoto Protocol, 2014). This will therefore be a great challenge for New Zealand, especially for the major players to fulfill the requirements of the protocol and to conform to the standards set by it. Moreover, care should be taken to ensure that there will be cooperation among the citizens, the government and these major players all the time. The major obstacles to be overcome here include the possibility of error in the assessment of the true state of natural resources, the lack of cooperation between the citizens and the major players, the lack of concern and coordination from the government, and the supposed inherent irresponsibility of people towards their own environment. Nevertheless, with the joint effort of the government, the major players and many concerned citizens, these obstacles may be surpassed. References About EECA. (2014). Retrieved from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority: http://www.eeca.govt.nz/about-eeca About the OECD. (2014). Retrieved from the OECD: http://www.oecd.org/about/ Affording Our Future. (2014). Retrieved from the Treasury: http://www.treasury.govt.nz/government/longterm/fiscalposition/2013/affordingourfuture/30.htm Chapter 4: Effects on Local Government Functions and Services. (2014). Retrieved from Ministry for the Environment: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/effects-impacts-may04/html/page4.html Current Investigations. (2014). Retrieved from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment: http://www.pce.parliament.nz/current-work/current-investigations/ Enhancing the Benefits of New Zealand’s Natural Resources. (2013). Retrieved from NIWA: https://www.niwa.co.nz/sites/niwa.co.nz/files/niwa_annual_report_2013.pdf Environmental Management for New Zealand. (2014). Retrieved from Ministry for the Environment: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/ser1997/html/chapter4.2.html ISO14000: Environmental Management. (2014). Retrieved from ISO: http://www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso14000.htm Ministry for Primary Industries. (2014). Retrieved from the Ministry for Primary Industries: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/ Natural Resource Group GIS Section. (2014). Retrieved from the Department of Conservation: http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/role/maps-and-geospatial-services/natural-resource-group-gis-network/ Natural Resources. (2014). Retrieved from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment: http://www.med.govt.nz/sectors-industries/natural-resources New Zealand Conservation Authority. (2014). Retrieved from the Department of Conservation: http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/nz-conservation-authority-and-boards/nz-conservation-authority/ The Kyoto Protocol. (2014). Retrieved from Ministry for the Environment: https://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/climate/international/kyoto-protocol.html Welcome to the Environmental Protection Authority. (2014). Retrieved from the Environmental Protection Authority: http://www.epa.govt.nz/Pages/default.aspx Working at the Ministry. (2014). Retrieved from Ministry for the Environment: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/about/jobs/index.html Read More