Headline: Top UN official calls on NZ to set a binding emissions reduction target
The National Government has refused to make a binding commitment to reduce emissions because its actions have made that impossible to achieve.
United Nations leader on climate change Christiana Figueres is urging New Zealand to sign up to a legally binding greenhouse emission reduction target.
Ms Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will tell the Green Party-hosted climate change conference at Parliament tomorrow that New Zealand will face more droughts and extreme conditions unless rapid action is taken to tackle climate change.
In her recorded address to the conference Ms Figueres highlights the risks New Zealand faces from climate change and outlines the opportunities in taking action.
Green Party climate change spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham said her remarks were a wake-up call.
“The National Government has refused to make a binding commitment to reduce emissions because its actions have made that impossible to achieve.” Dr Graham said.
“National gutted the Emissions Trading Scheme, and refused to sign up to binding commitments under the Kyoto Protocol while actively backing and subsidising industries that will add to climate change.
“The Government needs to set a target for emissions reductions and a pathway to get there.
“The international community accept that urgent action on climate change is needed but New Zealand is failing to do its fair share. New Zealand cannot continue to freeload on the efforts of others,” Dr Graham said.
Tomorrow’s conference brings together leading scientists, policy analysts, civil society representatives, farmers, foresters and business people to discuss the challenges of climate change and together consider how to tackle them.
“New Zealand needs an effective climate change policy and strategy,” Dr Graham said.
“New Zealanders want our government to act and the right measures need to be put in place. We need to incentivise clean tech and innovation and stop subsidising pollution.”
—
