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4.89. The effects of climate change have started to impact the New Zealand insurance market. In terms of nominal value of insurance claims, the five most expensive calendar years for weather event claims were the last five years (i.e. 2017-21 inclusive). The mostly costly individual events for various types of weather have also been recent – tornado (2021), floods (2021), hailstorms (2019), and wildfires (2020). According to the authorities, the weather-related losses, as well as the much larger earthquake losses in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2016, have contributed to large increases in property insurance premium rates in recent years.

4.123. Carbon emissions from transport activities are a major part of New Zealand's climate challenge, representing some 20% of total emissions and 43% of CO2 emissions. The national draft Emissions Reduction Plan, which will create binding domestic commitments when finalized in April 2022, sets out a range of proposed interventions to reduce transport emissions by 41% by 2035. As part of this plan, the Government is currently considering legislation to set tough CO2 standards for light vehicles, has introduced rebates for low-emissions vehicles, is considering congestion charging in major centres, is developing a sustainable biofuels mandate, and is requiring all new public transport buses to have zero emissions by 2025.

4.125. The 2012 National Airspace and Air Navigation Plan continues to be New Zealand's guidance document in the air transport sector. (...) some progress has been achieved under the Plan, including, the implementation of performance-based navigation approaches at the main international airports (in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch) [73] (...) [73] Performance-based navigation is part of a 10-year programme to coordinate the various activities of New Zealand's aviation-related agencies (such as Airways Corporation, the Ministry of Transport, and the New Zealand Defence Force) under the National Airspace and Air Navigation Plan to deliver safety, economic, environmental, and social benefits.

4.141. (...) Under the Act, Maritime New Zealand, a Crown entity, is responsible for developing and monitoring rules and standards for safety, security, and environmental matters in maritime transport. The entity is also responsible for implementing the Maritime Security Act 2004, administering the New Zealand Register of Ships (as per the Ship Registration Act 1992) and ensuring compliance with international maritime and marine environment protection conventions.

4.154. The 2019 New Zealand Government Tourism Strategy sets out a stewardship role for Government in tourism, to ensure tourism enriches New Zealand through more productive, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Priority actions for delivering this include coordination across the tourism system, the development of long-term sustainable funding mechanisms, the facilitation of destination management and planning, and better data and insight.

4.155. In 2019, the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy was introduced. This NZD 35 levy, which applies to most international visitors to New Zealand, is used to invest in projects that will help to create productive, sustainable, and inclusive tourism growth that protects and supports the environment.

4.157. A further NZD 200 million was provided in 2021 through the Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan. The Plan aims to ensure the immediate survival of the tourism sector and contains initiatives that focus on ensuring tourism is sustainable and resilient in the future. (...). According to the authorities, funding was also allocated for an Industry Transformation Plan, which will build on previous work by, inter alia, the Tourism Futures Taskforce, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and the Climate Change Commission to transform tourism into a more sustainable model.

3.89. An incentive tax on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was introduced in 2000 to protect the environment by encouraging a diminution of VOC emissions. The tax is levied by Switzerland and Liechtenstein on both imports and domestic production. Since 2003, the tax rate has been set at CHF 3 per VOC kilogram. The tax is refunded upon exportation. Not all VOC products are subject to the tax: a positive list of substances and a positive list of products detail the products to which the tax applies. Substances and products containing less than 3% of VOC are exempted. Companies may be exempted from the tax provided that their stationary installation emits at least 50% less VOCs than the limit allowed for similar installations, the off gas purification installation is available more than 95% of the time, and emissions are reduced using the best available technology. (...) The authorities estimate that since the inception of the VOC levy, emissions have declined by more than 40%, and currently represent almost 80,000 tonnes annually. A study on VOC emissions from 1995 to 2019 highlighted that the reduction is mainly attributable to the industry sector subject to the tax and to transport not subject to the tax. As for the CO2 tax, the proceeds from the tax are redistributed to the population through the health insurance companies (CHF 114 million in 2021).

3.99. Cross border projects can benefit from financing in order to reinforce economic cooperation between Switzerland and EU countries. Three programmes are offered in partnership with the European Union: Interreg (for innovative and sustainable projects in border regions and for transnational cooperation in larger regions, e.g. in the Alpine space), URBACT (targeted specifically towards urban development), and ESPON (the European Territorial Observatory Network targeting territorial development and spatial planning).

3.102. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Start up Fund (SSF) is a development loan facility established by SECO and managed by FINANCEcontact Ltd. The SSF supports Swiss based start ups and entrepreneurs with operations located in emerging markets. The SSF offers loans up to a maximum of CHF 500,000, repayable over seven years. Projects will be funded if they aim to leverage long term development opportunities in the targeted area (e.g (...) sustainable production). (...)