Hon Tim Groser

Minister for Climate Change Issues

24 November 2015

Media Statement

Minister to travel to Paris for key climate meeting

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser will today travel to Paris, France to take part in a key meeting on climate change at which a new global climate change agreement is expected to be concluded.

“For the first time world leaders will agree a new binding Climate Change agreement that includes contributions from all major emitting countries. That will be of critical importance for putting the world on a path to keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees,” says Mr Groser.

Earlier this year New Zealand submitted its target to reduce emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.

“I am particularly pleased to see the commitments expressed by so many countries from around the world. Targets submitted now come from 147 countries representing 87% of world emissions including the world’s two largest emitters – the USA and China. Climate change is a global issue and it is good to see leadership from these major economies,” says Mr Groser.

One of the key planks of the new agreement will be the New Zealand proposal on legal form, in which the agreement will have legally binding obligations – for example obligations to report emissions, and to submit and update a target will be binding – but the targets themselves will not be.

“This is to ensure that we get maximum participation and to ensure countries don’t lowball their offers for fear of being in breach of international law,” says Mr Groser.

Ahead of the Paris conference, the Minister will also attend the French hosted Oceania Summit alongside leaders from the Pacific Islands and Australia.

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