Landmark US report shows up NZ’s climate failure

A landmark report launched by the Obama administration overnight shows National is out of step with world leaders on climate change, the Green Party said today.

The US National Climate Assessment - compiled by 300 leading scientists and experts - reveals the US is already paying a multibillion-dollar price for climate change, and that no American will be left unscathed by a warming planet.

Barack Obama is expected to use the report to define his environmental agenda in his remaining two years in office.

“While Governments and leaders around the world are asking experts and scientists to guide them in developing climate policy, National prefers to rubbish our leading climate scientists (1) and dismiss their warnings,” said Green Party climate change spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.

The US report follows the recent release of ground-breaking reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which look at likely climate impacts in New Zealand and call on all countries to take urgent action to reduce emissions.

“National’s policies are set to drive up our emissions by 50% over the next 10 years and New Zealand is on track to be the worst performing developed country when it comes to emission reduction,” said Dr Graham.

“We have to turn this around if we’re to play our part in the global fight against climate change.

“I think most New Zealanders are horrified by how much our country has dropped the ball on climate change – not just because it’s hurting our reputation, but because they understand that reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is an opportunity to create a smarter, greener and more resilient economy.

“Not taking meaningful action on climate change is economically illiterate. New Zealanders deserve a Government that takes climate change seriously.

“We need to turn a corner on our climate change policy or suffer the consequences.

“The Green Party will be campaigning strongly on climate change this election. It’s time we had a Government that demonstrates real leadership to protect our people, economy and environment.”

The National Climate Assessment report can be found here: http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report

(1) http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/video/32455

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