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National Government wins awards for climate failure

27 November 2012

National Government wins awards for climate failure

The National Government’s failure to act on climate change has seen it get two fossil of the day awards on the first day of international climate talks, the Green Party said today.

“The National Government pretends its decisions undermining efforts to combat climate change are minor but the fossil of the day awards show it is fooling no one,” Green Party climate change spokesperson Kennedy Graham said.

Annual international climate negotiations started yesterday in Doha, Qatar. Over a two week period countries are meeting to seek an agreement on how to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions.

“The fossil awards recognise the National Government’s decision not to sign up to legally binding emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol, and its refusal to even state what voluntary goals it will pretend to aim for.

“The National Government doesn’t have a plan to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions. It gutted the Emissions Trading Scheme in a way which will increase emissions, load more costs onto taxpayers, and subsidise polluters.

“The National Government has put New Zealand’s international reputation on the line.

“We are seeing stories in major media organisations in the United Kingdom, United States and even China attacking our stance on climate change. Pacific Island countries cited New Zealand’s decision against a second Kyoto commitment as one of the obstacles to a global agreement.

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“By not doing our fair share on climate change the National Government is damaging our clean green image and that puts our economy, our environment, and jobs at risk.

“This National Government is making us international pariahs by obstructing action on climate change.

“Unlike the Prime Minister, New Zealanders don’t see our environment as a cheap commodity like a hamburger and it’s time the Government started to value it.

“New Zealanders are not lovin’ our Government’s backward obstructionist approach at Doha,” said Dr Graham.

ends

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