Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Climate Change Is A Problem That Can Be Tackled

Climate change will continue throughout the 21st century and its impacts will increase, but there is a wide range of options for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, says the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Pete Hodgson, Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, said the report released internationally today showed why the Government supported the Kyoto Protocol, which requires industrialised countries to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.

“The report makes three things very clear," Mr Hodgson said. "First, the climate is changing and will continue to change because of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity. This finding is robust, despite existing uncertainties. Second, the impacts of climate change will become steadily worse if we do nothing to reduce our emissions. But third, there are many ways to reduce emissions that can bring other benefits to society and minimise costs.”

“The meaning of this report is clear. There is no excuse for inaction on global warming – we just have to get on with it.”

Mr Hodgson said the policy options New Zealand is developing are consistent with the main findings of the IPCC.

"In particular, the report endorses a mix of policy options to achieve emissions targets, including participation in international emissions trading. This ensures that the costs associated with emissions reductions are minimised, and we can make full use of any business opportunities that arise."

The Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change completes the panel’s five-yearly assessment of the science of climate change, the impacts of climate change and the adaptation and mitigation options. The next assessment is expected before the beginning of the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period in 2008, when binding greenhouse emission targets are due to come into force for industrialised countries.

The Summary for Policymakers of the synthesis report is at http://www.ipcc.ch/

Ends

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 The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice... More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. 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.