Climate Change Minister James Shaw names Rod Carr as Chairman-designate of the Climate Change Commission

Climate Change Minister James Shaw has named Rod Carr, ex-Vice Chancellor of the University of Canterbury and former Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Reserve Bank, as Chairman-designate of the Climate Change Commission.

The Climate Change Commission will be established if and when Parliament passes the Zero Carbon Bill. The Bill sets out a desire to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases, aside from biogenic methane, to net zero by 2050. Shaw expects the Bill to pass by Christmas and says the advice the Commission provides to government on future emissions budgets has the potential to shape and reshape industries and communities for decades to come.

“The Commission will have a critical role to help New Zealand transition to a low-emissions economy. As the Chairperson role will have a big impact on the success of the Commission, I have sought to appoint someone who will ensure that the Commission will be independent, analytical and credible,” Shaw says.

“The Commission will be crucial to keep us on track for our 2050 target and hold successive governments accountable to meet emissions budgets. Carr’s strong leadership skills, strategic vision and professional experience will be a huge asset in the Commission’s establishment years."

Carr has a PhD in insurance and risk management, and Shaw notes he also led the University of Canterbury through the earthquake recovery period. Carr is also an independent director of ASB, and former managing director of Jade Software.

Carr describes himself as "a realistic optimist", saying he has confidence that with urgency, empathy, science, humility and passion "we will make the world more sustainable and more inclusive. Much is being done but much more needs to be done, and done today, because tomorrow may be too late.”

Shaw says he's still considering his preferred candidates for the other six Commissioners and hopes to announce appointments to these roles in coming months.

The details below were provided by Shaw's office. And here's a speech from Shaw.  

·The term of Dr Carr’s appointment in its Designate capacity will commence immediately and remain in place until the enactment of the Bill later this year, at which point Dr Carr will become inaugural Chair.

·Cabinet agreed in December 2018 that we seek to ensure the Commission is fully operational for when the Bill passes.

·The Commission will have advisory, monitoring and reporting responsibilities under the new legislation and will build on work carried out by the Interim Climate Change Committee.

·The Interim Committee has progressed critical work on agriculture and renewable electricity generation prior to the Bill being enacted, and will continue to explore  plausible pathways for emissions reductions target(s), the analysis and evidence for which will be handed over to the Commission once the Bill is enacted.

·Dr Carr’s formal appointment term will continue for a maximum of five years once the Commission is established.