NZ Govt duplicitous on climate
11 December 2014
NZ Govt duplicitous on climate
The New Zealand delegation at the UN Climate Conference in Lima today advocated for reducing fossil fuel subsidies, only a week after the Government announced $8 million more for oil and gas exploration subsidies here, the Green Party said today.
Last week the Government announced an $8 million subsidy for oil and gas exploration. Meanwhile today, the New Zealand Climate Change Ambassador Jo Tyndall chaired a panel at the UN Climate Negotiations in Lima on reducing fossil fuel subsidies and called for cross party buy-in on fossil fuel subsidy reform.
“It’s completely duplicitous for the Government to be overseas preaching about the need to turn off the fossil fuel subsidy tap, while here in New Zealand it has turned the subsidy tap on full bore,” Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.
“Claims we are doing our fair share don’t wash - fossil fuel subsidies have increased under National.
“There is already enough proven fossil fuel reserves to fry the climate, yet National are wasting more money trying to find more.
“New Zealand’s position is embarrassing, we are failing our commitment to reduce emissions, lagging behind on supporting developing nations impacted by climate change, and now subsidising fossil fuels while claiming we are leading the way,” said Dr Norman.
ENDS