Appendix 3: International Agreements
Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
At the 1992 Earth Summit, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development. One of the key agreements adopted at the summit was the Convention on Biological Diversity. Over 180 countries are Party to the Convention, including New Zealand. One of the Convention's three main goals is the "fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources". This has implications for bioprospecting, and the potential benefits derived from this activity.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change requires parties to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition, parties are required to produce an annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and periodically produce a national report on their response to climate change, including policies, inventory and emission projections. The Ministry has responsibility for collecting and compiling data on greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector, including carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes.
Kyoto Protocol
Subject to its coming into force and New Zealand ratification, the Kyoto Protocol requires New Zealand to reduce its emissions of the six main greenhouse gases to 1990 levels over the 2008 to 2012 commitment period, or to take responsibility for any excess emissions. The Protocol requires parties to have in place a national system for the inventory and a national registry for accounting for units of assigned amount. The Ministry has responsibility for the national registry. The Protocol's requirements add to the reporting obligations under the Convention and include international review and compliance procedures.
Energy Safety
New Zealand has a number of government-to-government mutual recognition agreements at the regional and bilateral level, all of which have an electrical and electronic component. New Zealand is looking to complete a substantial text, in the next year, as the basis for an agreement with China on electrical equipment as part of the wider Free Trade Agreement with China. The Energy Safety Service is also looking to conclude further agreements within the Asia-Pacific region on products with a substantive electrical and electronic component and to deepen those agreements already in place to improve both trade and regulatory compliance outcomes.
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement
This Arrangement with Australia allows a product that can be legally sold in one country to be legally sold in the other. Gas appliances are currently excluded from the arrangement under a special exemption. It is expected that discussions between New Zealand and Australia will eventually lead to the mutual recognition of a substantial proportion of gas appliances sold in New Zealand.
Singapore Closer Economic Partnership
New Zealand's Closer Economic Partnership agreement with Singapore has provision for moving towards a mutual recognition agreement such as exists between New Zealand and Australia.
International Energy Agency
The Agency is an autonomous agency within the OECD. It was established in 1974, following the 1973/1974 oil crisis, to implement measures to deal with any future such crises. New Zealand became a member in 1976.
As well as undertaking work on oil security measures, the Agency has developed a wide programme of work in support of efficiency of energy markets, long-term sustainability and development of climate change policies and measures. Formal Energy Ministers' meetings are held biennially, and on occasion in the intervening years.
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The APEC Energy Working Group was established in 1990 and is one of eleven APEC sectoral working groups. It operates a programme of work with the aim of maximising the energy sector's contribution to the APEC region's economic and social well-being. All Working Group decisions are non-binding. Australia runs the Group Secretariat. APEC Energy Ministers meet approximately once every two years.
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