Green Party’s answer to climate Big Ask

The Green Party has welcomed a Gen Zero report calling for concrete climate commitments from all parties ahead of the election.

“Gen Zero’s Big Ask report is a timely reminder about what real climate action looks like,” said Green Party Climate Change spokesman Dr Kennedy Graham.

“Gen Zero’s proposal aligns closely with the Green Party’s Climate Protection Plan – both centre on a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, the establishment of an independent Climate Commission, and legally binding emission reduction targets to ensure New Zealand actually starts making progress on climate.

“The gulf between what New Zealand should be doing on the climate and what National Government is actually doing is huge, and this matters for a lot of New Zealanders when they go to the polls.

“You only have to look at the success of the Climate Voter initiative, which has attracted nearly 20,000 signatories in just two weeks, to see that climate change is an election issue,” said Dr Graham.

“These are 20,000 individual New Zealanders who care about climate change, want real action, and are prepared to use their vote to get it.

“Successive Governments’ weak climate policies have driven up New Zealand’s emissions, locked in high carbon investment, and made New Zealand part of the global climate problem.

“The Green Party will ensure New Zealand is part of the solution.

“The Green Party is the only political party offering voters a win-win plan this election that will protect our climate, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and leave Kiwi families better off.”

The Green Party’s Climate Protection plan will:

1. Set New Zealand on the path to be carbon neutral by 2050.

2. Establish an independent Climate Commission to provide expert advice to government.

3. Phase out the failed Emissions Trading Scheme and introduce a Climate Tax Cut – a charge on carbon, the revenue from which will all be returned to households and businesses in the form of tax cuts.

5. Introduce a suite of complementary measures to support the rapid transition to a carbon neutral economy, such as a Green Investment Bank, policies to achieve 100% renewable electricity and increased investment in public transport.

For a copy of the Green Party’s Climate Protection Plan, go to: www.greens.org.nz/climateplan

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