Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

McCully must table emissions target while at UN

McCully must table emissions target while at UN

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully needs to table a New Zealand emissions reduction target while at the UN climate summit in New York this week, the Green Party said today.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened the summit so countries can give an indication of the emission reductions they intend to make by 2030.

“So far National has not been upfront about what it’s prepared to do as part of global efforts to tackle climate change,” said Green Party Climate Change Spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.

“This is likely due to National’s abysmal record on climate. Under National, New Zealand’s emissions will get worse. On current government projections, our net emissions will rise 50 percent in the next 10 years.

“Official documents show National is struggling with the growing divide between the obligation to reduce emissions and New Zealand’s actual emissions profile.

“You can see the problem McCully has, but now is the time for National to get its act together, show some leadership and turn this failure around.

“McCully’s chief purpose for being at the UN is to further New Zealand’s bid for a seat on the Security Council.

“It is folly to lobby for that seat while ignoring one of the biggest threats to global security - climate change.”

A senior Pentagon official said earlier this year that the accelerating rate of climate change poses a severe risk to US national security and acts as a catalyst for global political conflict.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“It would arguably boost our chances of attaining that UN seat if John Key’s Government showed a genuine commitment to tackling climate change,” said Dr Graham.

National has a target of five percent reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, but will only meet it by purchasing offsets. When questioned by the Green Party in January, National refused to reveal a 2030 target. The European Commission has agreed to a 40 percent cut from 1990 levels by 2030.

“National’s commitments to date falls well below what is needed from New Zealand,” said Dr Graham.

“We have a moral responsibility to act, yet taking action on climate change also presents a unique opportunity to transition to a smarter, cleaner, more prosperous economy.”

Link to Green Party’s Climate Protection Plan:
https://www.greens.org.nz/policy/smarter-economy/climate-protection-plan

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.