Moana Mackey
Climate Change Spokesperson

16 August 2013

National admits defeat on climate change

National has today admitted defeat on climate change by setting a 5 per cent emissions reduction target by 2020, Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Moana Mackey says.

"National previously committed to a reduction target of 10 to 20 per cent. Labour has consistently said anything less than 15 per cent is a white flag to the international community. It says we’re not prepared to do our fair share and take serious action on climate change.

“Today’s announcement is disappointing but unsurprising, given National has gutted the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), devastated the carbon forestry sector and pulled out of Kyoto,” Moana Mackey says.

New Zealand’s international reputation has taken a hammering in recent weeks, she says.

“This will do nothing to restore credibility to our clean green image. We are the last developed country to announce a target -- a target which was due last year -- and we still haven't seen any plan as to how the Government expects to achieve even this very modest reduction.

“A recent report shows deforestation is rising and foresters are leaving the ETS in droves. New Zealand is heavily reliant on forestry to offset our ever increasing greenhouse gas emissions which show no sign of peaking.

“A Labour government will get serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions by strengthening the ETS, rejoining Kyoto and providing support for industries which help reduce emissions such as forestry,” Moana Mackey says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media