Headline: Conference shows that action is needed on climate change now
Today’s Green Party-hosted climate change conference at Parliament has confirmed the urgent need for the National Government to act on climate change or leave New Zealand unprepared for the future, the Green Party said today.
Today’s conference heard from leading scientists, policy analysts, civil society representatives, farmers, foresters and business people who discussed the challenges of climate change and considered how to tackle them.
“The resounding message after hearing the leading lights on climate change in New Zealand is that inaction is not an option,” said Green Party climate change spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.
“In her recorded address United Nations, leader on climate change Christiana Figueres urged New Zealand to sign up to a legally binding greenhouse emission reduction target. Other speakers did not mince their words either; the fact of the matter is New Zealand is not doing its fair share on climate change and it needs to start.
“Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman talked about how it’s not the Kiwi way to freeload and its actions were an international embarrassment, while former climate change ambassador Dr Adrian Macey said New Zealand’s position at Doha meant that it now lagged behind other countries in terms of 2020 emission reduction pledges.
“Scientists at the conference confirmed the point where dramatic action needed to begin has long passed.
“I urge the National Government to pull its head out of the sand and start addressing the problem of climate change now; there are opportunities to seize and savings to make. Starting the changes needed sooner will be far easier than letting future generations have to take drastic sudden steps.
“National Government policies have tanked the price on carbon and subsidised and supported polluters while failing to invest in a sustainable future.
“It’s time for the Government to announce a serious binding reductions target and demonstrate how it will be reached. It’s time for the Government to sign up to the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol.
“It’s time for the National Government to wake up to the reality of climate change and show some leadership to prepare New Zealand for the reality of a changed future under climate change,” said Dr Graham.
Further information:
http://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/christiana_figueres_transcript.pdf
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