Assessing the impacts of Motu’s Low-Emission Future Programme

by Catherine Leining, Ceridwyn Roberts, and Suzi Kerr of Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust.

In November 2016, Motu surveyed 360 people interested in climate change policy and had 81 responses. The survey was designed to help assess the impacts of Motu’s programme ‘Shaping New Zealand’s Low-Emission Future’ and its cross-stakeholder Emissions Trading Scheme and Low-Emission Future Dialogues as well as inform future programme planning. As a ‘thank you’ to all those who took part Motu will purchase and plant six trees through the Wellington City Council’s ‘Two Million Trees’ initiative.

We feel encouraged that more than three quarters of respondents agree or strongly agree that Motu’s work has enhanced the quality of policy discussion on climate change mitigation and that more than four fifths of respondents regard Motu as a credible source of independent expert information on climate change mitigation.

One of the survey’s key messages was the value of collaborative dialogue for everyone involved in the process.  Participants in the LEF Dialogue and ETS Dialogue derived value for their own work and the work of their organisation from being part of the programmes. Most would also recommend future Motu dialogue processes to their colleagues. Respondents encourage us to further broaden and diversify the range of people and organisations with which we engage.

Respondents identified a range of significant and complex issues relevant to climate change mitigation in New Zealand where they believe that Motu’s expertise and collaborative approaches would be useful. Some of these represent a continuation of existing work and others would constitute new focus areas. The issues are challenging and it will be exciting to see what 2017 brings.

The survey also highlighted the need for better communication of Motu’s work and associated outcomes and we will investigate additional avenues of communication, alongside changes in targeting, early in the New Year.

We want to thank everyone who has contributed to our work during the past year.  Happy holidays!