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

 

John Key must back signing of SDGs with action

28 September 2015

John Key must back signing of SDGs with action or risk hypocrisy

It would be hypocritical of John Key to sign up to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to end extreme poverty around the world and stop climate change, if he does not actually implement those policies at home, said the Green Party today.

On Friday, New Zealand, as part of the United Nations, adopted 17 goals which set targets for future international development over the next 15 years. The SDGs replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which are due to expire at the end of this year.

“John Key cannot go to New York and sign up to end extreme global poverty while at the same time deny children in New Zealand necessities like school lunches and warm homes,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw.

“It is the ultimate hypocrisy that our Minister for Climate Change is in New York endorsing a goal to take urgent action to combat climate change but is at the same time taking an embarrassingly weak emissions reduction target to the Paris Climate Conference.

“If the National Government doesn’t implement policies that will achieve the SDGs in our own backyard, it shows that signing them was nothing but grandstanding.

“New Zealand needs to take action on all of these goals because they work best in unison; it isn’t enough to just pick out one or to rest on our laurels about past achievements.

“The international community only succeeded in making one MDG a reality, which was halving the number of people living in extreme poverty. The failure of the MDGs is, in part, due to the fact that countries like New Zealand did not live up to funding commitments.

“New Zealand needs to do its fair share over the next 15 years to ensure that we are lifting the standard of life for everyone,” said Mr Shaw.


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.

© Scoop Media

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



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... 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.