Report puts climate change on campaign map

Despite National’s best attempts to ignore climate change, a new report by Generation Zero today puts the issue squarely on the election campaign map, Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Moana Mackey says.

“Labour has been engaging with Generation Zero on these and other issues over the past three years and will be releasing our policy soon.

“Labour will, as a top priority, begin the transition away from an economy heavily reliant on fossil fuels with ever-increasing gross greenhouse gas emissions to one that is based on clean energy, green technology, and is low-carbon.

“We have already announced a number of commitments that will form part of a comprehensive climate change strategy including strengthening the emissions trading scheme, requiring transparency around carbon pricing, and restricting cheap international units.

“Labour also believes we have a window of opportunity in a world seeking low-carbon solutions to leverage our natural strengths by supporting and promoting the renewable energy and low-carbon expertise that exists in New Zealand.

“Under the current Government we are being overtaken by other countries who also see these opportunities and are actively pursuing them.

“A Labour government will set more ambitious targets than the current Government and then develop a clear plan to achieve them. Labour remains committed to at least 90 per cent renewable energy generation by 2025.

“Labour takes climate change seriously and will commit to a clean energy future. This is about future-proofing our economy. We do not believe it is fair for future generations to be burdened with the environmental and economic debt of National’s complete inaction on climate change,” Moana Mackey says.

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