TARANAKI 2050 ROADMAP OUR JUST TRANSITION TO A LOW-EMISSIONS ECONOMY JULY 2019 Contents 1. Context ................................................................1 12. People and Talent ................................................18 2. Our vision for 2050: a low-emissions 13. Innovation and Research & Development (R&D) ...... 20 economy like no other ........................................... 2 14. Infrastructure and Transport .................................22 3. Next steps ...........................................................4 15. Health and Well-being ........................................ 24 4. The powerful process of co-design.......................... 5 16. Arts .................................................................. 26 5. Significant trends expected to impact the future ...... 8 17. Environmental Sciences ...................................... 28 6. How the change will impact on different parts of the region ........................................................ 8 18. Regulatory ......................................................... 30 7. The 12 transition pathways .....................................9 19. Metrics & Evaluation ............................................32 8. Energy ................................................................10 20. Youth and Community engagement ....................... 34 9. Food and Fibre ....................................................12 21. Acknowledgements ............................................40 10. Tourism ..............................................................14 22. Glossary ............................................................40 11. Māori Economy ....................................................16 DISCLAIMER: Venture Taranaki, its employees or stakeholders, nor any contributing organisations or individuals accepts any responsibility on any grounds whatsoever, including negligence, to any other person. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information and opinions in this report are accurate and reliable, Venture Taranaki or individuals shall not be liable for any adverse consequences of decisions made in reliance of any report provided by this organisation. TARANAKI 2050 ROADMAP 1. Context New Zealand, as a nation, is moving is great about our region. A transition is likely necessary, including system-wide behavioural and institutional change to towards a low-emissions economy. ensure more parity in outcomes for people. Co-creation with In April 2018, the coalition Government announced it would communities, iwi, local and central government, businesses, grant new exploration permits only for onshore Taranaki and educators, unions and workers is the cornerstone of the nowhere else. This decision has the potential for significant approach we are taking in Taranaki. impact on the economies of both Taranaki and New Zealand if we do nothing. This is particularly true for Taranaki, given 1.1 Tapuae Roa: our regional economic the energy sector represents 28% of the regional economic development strategy output1. Prior to the inception of the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap project, The exploration decision is part of a much wider picture. The Taranaki developed a regional economic development strategy world has committed to taking action to lower greenhouse and accompanying action plan, Tapuae Roa: Make Way for gas emissions. In 2016, New Zealand ratified the Paris Taranaki. This encompassed the views of iwi, business, central Agreement and made international commitments to support and local government. the global response to the threat of climate change. Under this agreement, New Zealand needs to reduce emissions to 30% Tapuae Roa identified four futures to be developed and below 2005 levels by 2030. strengthened over time, to diversify Taranaki’s economic base and cement its position as the powerhouse regional economy The New Zealand Productivity Commission completed its in New Zealand. The futures are: final report on transitioning New Zealand to a low-emissions economy in April 2018. The Productivity Commission found • Energy that three particular shifts must happen for New Zealand to • Food achieve its low-emissions goals: • Tourism • A transition from fossil fuels to electricity and other low- • Māori Economy. 1 emission fuels across the economy; Tapuae Roa could be described as a top-down planning • Substantial afforestation; and exercise. The creation of the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap could • Changes to the structure and methods of agriculture be described as a bottom-up, transparent, inclusive exercise production2. capturing new information from a far more diverse group The Interim Climate Change Committee released reports of stakeholders within a changed economic context due to in July 2019 on Agricultural Emissions and Accelerated Government policy amendments in relation to climate change. Electrification. Both recommend a series of actions the While the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap is an ongoing piece of work Government can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in yet to deliver a set of tangible, bankable initiatives, it is worth agriculture and electricity, including using electricity to reduce noting that many of the themes and emerging opportunities transport and process heat emissions3. The Committee’s report articulated by 2050 Roadmap workshop participants align well highlighted that reducing emissions is a complex task requiring with Tapuae Roa. For example: careful planning. • Its four futures; In 2016, New Zealand’s two largest contributing sectors for • Its focus on sustainability, diversification, science, and emissions were agriculture and energy (including transport)4. economics-based decision making; These sectors are a key part of Taranaki’s economy, and while • The desire for Taranaki to continue to attract investment forestry has considerable growth potential, a significant and sustain a high quality of life for our people and a high- transition to a low-emissions economy will be required. value economy; and The past shows us that the impact of large transitions, such • The importance of underpinning the above with innovation, as what we need to do to lower our emissions, can lead to a as well as investments geared towards ensuring the region legacy of negative impacts for some. A just transition is about continues to be a net contributor to New Zealand’s social managing these effects to continue to build a fair and inclusive and economic wealth. New Zealand. For Taranaki it means ensuring we keep what 1 Tapaue Roa: Make Way for Taranaki Strategy, August, 2017, p.52 2 The New Zealand Productivity Commission, Low-emissions economy: Final report, August 2018, p.2 3 Interim Climate Change Committee Action on agricultural emissions Accelerated electrification Summary Reports and Recommendations 30 April 2019, p.1, 6, 12, 13. 4 The New Zealand Productivity Commission, Low-emissions economy: Final report, August 2018, p.30 TARANAKI 2050 ROADMAP 2. Our vision for 2050: a low-emissions economy like no other Our vision for Taranaki in 2050 has been co-designed by the especially for the first people to live in Taranaki: Māori. The region. It considers not just how our economy will change, vision our community has created is about reconciling and but all aspects of our lives, and provides the opportunity to moving forward as one, giving everyone a fair opportunity plan for inclusive growth as we transition to a low-emissions to participate in society and reach their potential. A central economy. focus is also about moving to a more sustainable relationship between people and environment. The Taranaki 2050 Roadmap was launched as a draft on 9 May at the Just Transition Summit in New Plymouth. Public While there were some divergent views for the future of feedback to the draft was open from 9 May to 30 June 2019 Taranaki across participants, there were also many common and has helped shape the final Roadmap. themes. We can truly say that what unites us as a region is stronger than what divides us as a region. The main consistent The Roadmap is the first step we have taken as a region in themes were grouped into the areas below: sustainability, developing our transition plan to a low-emissions economy. inclusivity and enterprise. The draft was the culmination of 29 workshops on 12 transition topics, plus surveys and community outreach, as well as a In many ways, these themes reflected the Māori values of creative challenge and specialist workshops/engagement guardianship of people and our environment (similar to for youth. More than 14,000 people viewed the introductory kaitiakitanga), the importance of community and caring 2 online video, and the process engaged ideas from more than (similar to manaakitanga), and the need for collective action in 1,000 people. The workshops mixed the diversity and talent of our move forwards (similar to kotahitanga). They also signified our region with specialist expertise from around the country. a focus on long-term outcomes that span generations. Following the launch of the draft Roadmap, public consultation included visits to more than 40 locations with over 1,000 2.1. Sustainability people. Twenty-five separate email submissions were received There was a strong recognition of the concept of sustainability from individuals and organisations that represented thousands – that we should meet the needs of the present, without of individuals, as well as 135 submissions via our online compromising the ability of future generations to meet their interactive tool. own needs.