10 June 2014

Has Key joined efforts to thwart Obama on climate?

The Green Party is calling on John Key to confirm or deny that New Zealand is part of a small handful of countries trying to block global action on climate change.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot is understood to be building an alliance with countries like Canada and New Zealand in order to dismantle global moves to introduce carbon pricing and undermine recent efforts by United States President Obama to bring down greenhouse gas emissions.

International media are reporting it as “an alliance among like-minded countries”.

“John Key meets with President Obama next week. The question is: whose side is he on?” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

“Is the Prime Minister a paid up member of Tony Abbot’s flat earth society, or does he stand on the side of global leaders who want to see real and meaningful action on climate change?

“If Mr Abbott is indeed building an alliance to destroy global efforts to curb emissions, and John Key intends to be part of it, he needs to come clean.”

National Party policies mean New Zealand’s net emissions are set to rise by 50% in the next 10 years.

“Not content for New Zealand’s emissions to keep climbing, is it possible that John Key wishes to go further and stymie wider efforts to tackle climate change?” asked Dr Norman.

The Green Party last week announced a comprehensive plan to reduce New Zealand’s emissions and get New Zealand back on track on climate.

The National Government’s response to the policy was described in a Dominion Post editorial as “lazy and arrogant” and by a leading business commentator as “mildly hysterical”.

“This Government clearly has no interest in helping solve the global climate crisis,” said Dr Norman.

“New Zealand is increasingly seen as dragging the chain when it comes to global emission reduction efforts and we are now among the biggest laggards on the block.

“It would not be surprising if John Key had chosen to buddy up with like minds in order to block real progress.”

Full details of the Green Party’s Climate Protection Plan: www.greens.org.nz/climateplan

Sydney Morning Herald article on “flat earth” alliance: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-seeks-alliance-to-thwart-president-obama-on-climate-change-policy-20140609-39t93.html

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