8July 2015 MEDIA STATEMENT

Minister, failure to plan is planning to fail

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser must immediately set a clear carbon budget if he wants to have any chance of meeting the emission reductions he has announced, says Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Megan Woods.

“National’s dirty little secret is that they have no workable plan to reduce emissions, despite setting target after target. Even the unambitious goals Tim Groser announced yesterday will be difficult to reach under the current approach.

“National’s new target calls for a 6 per cent reduction in emissions below 1990 between 2020 and 2030, but then a 39 per cent reduction between 2030 and 2050.

“It’s not credible to assume a reduction like that will just happen by itself. It’s the cross your fingers and hope approach to climate change.

“The Minister needs to immediately set a carbon budget that lays out when and how reductions will be achieved, with a system for reporting back against progress.

“An independent climate commission tasked with carbon budgeting is the only way to ensure New Zealand is really doing its part in the fight against climate change.

“The Government likes to point to the Emissions Trading Scheme as evidence of action on climate change, but that’s just a tool for reducing emissions, not a strategy for how to do it. It’s like driving a car but having no idea where you’re going.

“New Zealanders pride ourselves on our environment and our role on the world stage. It’s our point of difference in the global economy. National is letting us drift behind the rest of the pack on climate change, and putting our reputation at risk,” says Megan Woods.

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