Idea Bank of Pathway Milestones for New Zealand’s Low-Emission Future

Low-Emission Future Dialogue participants recognised that other experts were already conducting technical and economic assessment of New Zealand’s mitigation options, and sought to complement that effort by exploring what changes across society could help to turn such options into reality. Any number of pathways could deliver a zero-net-emission future for New Zealand. 

The more detailed ideas that emerged from the process are captured in this "idea bank" document, which is offered in the spirit of sparking discussion that might help with achieving the sectoral visions for stationary energy, land transport and agriculture. These are ideas for discussion, not recommendations. 

The "idea bank" is not intended to be prescriptive or predictive, nor does the inclusion of any idea in this document imply any recommendation, consensus or endorsement by Dialogue participants or presenters, their affiliated organisations or the programme funders. The ideas resulted from a series of creative brainstorming sessions by Dialogue participants with a range of interests and expertise. They have not been listed in chronological order or prioritised. Some may be interdependent and others mutually exclusive. While some may already be underway or show significant potential, others may not be technically, economically, or socially feasible or may be undesirable for other reasons. Some may only be remote possibilities. Individual Dialogue participants may not agree with many of these ideas.

We invite sector experts to work with us to:

• assess these potential milestones,
• suggest which milestones could be deleted or added, and
• explore how these milestones could be achieved through practical actions by specific actors.

At all stages of this review process, Dialogue members encourage others to take up the most promising ideas and run with them.

The recent Motu Note: New Zealand’s Low-Emission Future: Transformational Pathways presents a synthesis of ideas that emerged during the course of nine meetings of the Low-Emission Future Dialogue.