Environmental Sustainability

The environmental sustainability theme encompasses dealing with climate change, and land and water management. New Zealand must address its Kyoto Protocol liabilities for the 2008-2012 period.

Sustainable management of land ensures that people's socioeconomic needs and aspirations are met today, while at the same time the interests of future generations are safeguarded. This requires the development of sustainable land management framework, focussing on "whole-of-catchment".

Water needs to be used more efficiently, with natural water bodies afforded protection, and clear water quantity and quality limits.

This theme is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.