This Act updates the Resource Management Act 1991 and recognises the government's preference for national co-ordination of controls on GHG emissions and gives greater emphasis to climate change and energy matters in resource management, planning, and decision-making. The Act makes explicit provisions within section 7 of the Resource Management Act 1991 for all persons exercising functions and powers under the Act to have particular regard to the:
- Effects of climate change (excluding the effects on climate change of discharges into air of greenhouse gases),
- The efficiency of the end use of energy,
- Benefits to be derived from the use and development of renewable energy.
A later amendment to the Act (Resource Management Amendment Act 2020) repealed section 70A which previously prevented consenting decision-makers from considering the effects on climate change of discharges of greenhouse gases. This meant that the Resource Management Act could be used as an effective lever to promote climate change mitigation for the first time.
To support nationally consistent decision-making relating to climate change effects, the government released a National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standards for greenhouse gas emissions from industrial process heat. The standards will prohibit new low and medium temperature coal boilers, and phase out existing coal boilers beyond 2037
The 2020 Amendment also drew closer links between the the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Climate Change Response Act 2002, requiring regional councils to take account of emission reduction plans and national adaptation plans in their regional plan development.
