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Latest inventory shows National driving climate change
11 April 2014
Latest inventory shows National driving climate change
New Zealand's latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory submitted to the UN confirms National’s policies are driving climate change, the Green Party said today.
The annual inventory shows New Zealand's net emissions have risen 20 per cent under National and are now twice as high as they were in 1990.
“This report confirms National is failing on climate change,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.
“One of the main causes of New Zealand’s soaring emissions is deforestation. We’re witnessing a chainsaw massacre, with removals (or credits) from forestry down 23% since 2008.
“New Zealand is earning fewer credits now than before the emissions trading scheme was introduced, which is a direct result of National gutting the scheme which is now weakened to the point of redundancy.
“The greenhouse gas inventory comes at the same time as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calls for urgent action from all countries to reduce emissions in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
“Yet National refuses to take the issue seriously, as evidenced by these latest emission’s figures.
“Not taking meaningful action on climate change is economically illiterate. Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is an opportunity to create a smarter, greener and more resilient economy and to protect the Kiwi way of life.
“Taking action on climate change is a win-win, yet National seems determined to lose.
“Government projections show a massive increase in our net emissions, 50 per cent in the next ten years.
“We need to do our fair share when it comes to reducing our emissions. Our per capita emissions are well above the average for countries which made commitments under Kyoto.
“We’re basically free-loading. That’s bad for the climate and it’s a massive risk to our extremely valuable clean green image.
“We need to turn a corner on our climate change policy or suffer the consequences.
“It is time we had a Government that demonstrates real leadership to protect our people, economy and environment.”
ENDS
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