Climate report reinforces need for Government action
EMBARGOED UNTIL 1pm, WEDNESDAY, 27 November, 2014
27 November 2014
Climate report reinforces need for Government action
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s latest report released today reinforces the need for the Government to take climate change seriously, the Green Party said.
The report, Changing Climate and Rising Seas, released today summarises the science around climate change and focuses on sea level rise.
“We need to do our fair share to reduce emissions, and we need to start before we lock in further sea level rises,” said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.
“Most New Zealanders would be shocked to hear the National Government is planning on increasing our greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent in the next decade.
“When it comes to hitting our climate change targets, it’s like the Minister responsible is playing darts facing the wrong way.
“While China and the USA signalled their intention to take action to reduce emissions, the National Government’s plans to increase emissions leave New Zealand isolated.
“We need a plan to meet our emission reduction targets, instead of a plan to increase emissions,” said Dr Norman.
“The Government is also missing in action when it comes to supporting and providing guidance to local councils to deal with rising sea levels,” said Green Party local government spokesperson Eugenie Sage.
New Zealand climate facts:
•
Currently fifth highest emissions per capita in the OECD and
they are increasing. [1]
• 20 percent increase
in net emissions under National. [2]
• Ministry
for Environment report released this month shows a 50
percent increase in NZ’s projected net emissions.
[3]
• Advice from officials is that the gap
between our reduction commitments and reality is widening.
[4]
• Ministry for the Environment briefing
indicating New Zealand is currently on track to miss our
2050 emissions reduction target. [5]
For more
information:
[1] 5th in OECD, http://stats.oecd.org/
That they are
increasing – see figures listed in each of MfE’s Annual
Reports
[2] New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory,
Common reporting tables http://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/climate/greenhouse-gas-inventory-2012/common-reporting-format-tables.zip
[3]
MfE Annual Report 2014 page 68
[4] https://home.greens.org.nz/misc-documents/oias-development-nzs-global-climate-deal-committment
[5]
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/media/About/environment-bim-final.pdf
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