MPs agree on climate change. So why can’t Parliament get on with it?

We met with 73 MPs from five parties to ask their views on climate change. This is what they told us:

“Climate change should be cross-party, something we should all agree on. It’s not a party-vs-party issue, it’s a NZ issue.”

“The problem isn’t developing consensus, it’s the lack of initiatives.”

On 18 November, the ‘Members of Parliament Climate Consensus’ project will release its report on MPs’ views about climate change.

Members of this nonpartisan group of New Zealanders requested meetings with all sitting MPs to ask about their views on climate change. Some MPs declined, but 73 accepted. We went to listen to them, not lobby nor advocate. We promised to report on what they said without attribution.

Statements from current MPs show that they want to do something about climate change. But they are not aligned on what to do. They want a practical, long-term approach to climate resilience that survives changes of government.

Many want to work across party lines to get this.

“People want MPs to stop arguing about climate change and agree to a way forward.”

“I would work with anyone [in Parliament] to make sure that progress is made.”

MPs’ observations were sometimes blunt, and often unexpected.

They share concerns about climate-related damage and wanting to increase New Zealand’s resilience. Views differed about how vulnerable New Zealand is, how quickly to act, what voters want, and who should foot the bill.

How vulnerable are we?

Not very, according to many MPs. They cite our small size and temperate climate as reasons not to overestimate our risk. Others, particularly those representing flood- and cyclone-affected communities, can see the danger close up.

“The public in my electorate areas are fully across the need for priority on this because of their flood experiences and future threats.”

“New Zealand is one of the best places that can tolerate climate change.”

There are economic risks too. MPs are concerned about rising insurance and debt servicing costs, and damage to New Zealand’s reputation overseas.

“We need to be seen as ‘clean and green’ to maintain the value of our primary produce exports.”

How much time have we got?

About half of the MPs we met with wanted action immediately or very soon. The remainder thought change could wait or be more gradual.

“We’ve never had the social and political ability to change rapidly that we now need to cope with this – the only corollary would be in times of war, but we don’t recognise that we should be on a war footing.”

“We’re inclined to kick the can down the road, thinking ‘It’s a real problem but not one I have to deal with today.’”

Are voters holding MPs back, or waiting for them?

MPs agreed that lasting change needs public support. Some believe voters are already asking for action, but politics gets in the way.

They described a familiar problem: the three-year election cycle encourages short-term decisions and policy reversals, leaving businesses and households uncertain.

“Leaders need to do more but it must be grassroots-driven change. People need to demand change for it to occur.”

“Political colleagues think and act for today and tomorrow, not for years down the track.”

Can the market sort it out?

Here the differences are sharp. Some MPs trust insurers, businesses and consumers to drive the right changes at the right pace. Others see the market, and its incentives, as part of the problem.

“If consumers want it, the market will respond.”

“The real problem is capitalism, and its focus on self-reliance, when climate change is a global, collective problem.”

Who picks up the tab?

Across parties, MPs worry about costs: how much central government, councils, communities or insurers should carry, and whether money is better spent preparing for damage, or recovering afterwards.

So what happens next?

The striking question is not whether MPs can find common ground. This project shows that the common ground exists already. The question is how will Parliament’s parties turn that into a lasting plan for tackling climate resilience and climate change.

Would you like to keep up with news and announcements from the MPCC project? Drop us a line to join our email list.