Simon Upton

A new report warns there is not enough being done to protect healthy soil in urban areas - and it could have consequences during heavy rain events. Audio

There's frustration at the rate of progress to enact a national action plan for managing invasive weed species.  Audio

A new report warns public and private green space in urban centres shouldn't be optional, as two of our biggest cities' green spaces shrink by up to a third. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the… Audio, Gallery

A major new report calls for much closer scrutiny of chemicals approved of, and used, in New Zealand. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says on paper, there is a robust system in… Audio

The review says if we don't take action soon our ecosystems will be changed beyond recognition.  Audio

Federated Farmers says New Zealand's farm environment management system has been rocked to the core by the release of a report criticising the widely used farm nutrient modelling system Overseer… Audio

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is proposing stringent measures to make tourism more sustainable, once our borders reopen. Just over a year ago, Simon Upton released a major report… Audio

A former UN chief is warning the world has no more than 18 months to address climate change in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The United Nation's lead negotiator for the Paris Agreement… Audio

A panel discussion hosted by Guyon Espiner with three international experts exploring how the Covid-19 pandemic will affect climate change in the long-term.

Has the pandemic bought us any time to arrest climate change? If so, was the price we paid too high? Produced by Justin Gregory, Guyon Espiner, Claire Eastham-Farrelly, Tim Watkin and Veronica… Audio

'After the Virus' , a 6-part podcast and video series exploring how the Covid-19 pandemic will change the world in the long-term. Audio

A major report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment warns tourism - both domestic and international - is putting the country under major pressure and eroding the very attributes… Audio

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, has identified significant shortfalls in the way environmental data is collected and collated, which he says could be leading to poor… Audio

MPs have a lot of things on their minds. But to keep them on track on some issues they hire professional consciences. One of them is shaded green. Audio

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, is calling on government to pick up its game around biodegradable single-use plastics and its overal environmental goals.The… Audio

CEOs of sixty businesses across the country, collectively responsible for nearly 50% of our emissions, are banding together to combat climate change.  Members of this Climate Leaders Coalition include… Audio

Kathryn talks with the new parliamentary commissioner for the environment, Simon Upton. He's just begun after returning from the OECD in Paris where he was Environment Director. How will he approach… Audio