April 22nd, 2002

The voting out of Dr Robert Watson from his position as head of the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a further indication New Zealand has been out of step with international thinking on remedies to climate change, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

"New Zealand was following Dr Watson's policy prescription," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive, "but it appears he is out of step with most of his constituents.

"Dr Watson was key speaker at our Kyoto Summit two months ago while visiting to advise Government. He was dumped as head of the IPCC over the weekend by 76 votes against to 49 for, with 7 going to a third candidate. He is to be replaced by Rajendra Pachauri, an economist from India.

"Dr Watson took a strongly European view of how business should respond to climate change though it isn't where the rest of the world wants to go.

"We hope our Government changes tack before we find ourselves isolated as the only country prepared to cut our standard of living to reduce carbon emissions."

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