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New report shows NZ suffering effects of climate change

6 September 2013

New report shows NZ suffering effects of climate change

New research out today confirming that New Zealand is being harmed by climate change highlights why the National Government is so wrong to ignore this serious problem, the Green Party says.

Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 From a Climate Perspective was published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society today. Nineteen analyses were conducted into extreme weather events and found that in about half the cases human induced climate change was a factor.

The report included an analysis of the December 2011 heavy rains in Golden Bay/Nelson. It concluded the amount of rain that fell was as much as 5 percent higher because of climate change than it would otherwise have been.

“The hard reality of climate change is that New Zealand is going to face more severe droughts and floods more often,” Green Party climate spokesperson Kennedy Graham said.

“Even small changes to climate can have very large impacts on people’s lives.

“The National Government should be fostering green industries and diversifying our economy but is instead backing oil and gas and encouraging more intensive dairying which contributes to the problem.

“New Zealand needs a government that will help it adapt to climate change and mitigate so we have plans in place to deal with a climate changed future and also do our part to stop the worst outcomes.

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“Since National was elected they have systematically weakened and removed measures to address climate change and obstructed progress in international climate talks.

“Recently the National Government announced a weak greenhouse gas reduction target of 5 percent. This decision leaves New Zealand with no clout internationally as other countries realise we are free loading on their efforts,” Dr Graham said.

“Our Pacific neighbours have asked us to pick up our act on climate change at the Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands, it’s time we started doing our fair share.”

ENDS

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