For Immediate Release

350 Aotearoa challenges Government to meet the science

Wellington, 10th August: 350 Aotearoa is challenging the Government to consider the costs to the lives and well-being of young and future New Zealanders, and to take an in-depth look at the full range of emissions reduction options available, before ruling out a stronger emissions reduction target.

The target announced today not only ignores the voices of the many New Zealanders who attended public meetings and made submissions in the recent public consultations, but it also fails to meet the latest science. 350 parts per million (ppm) is the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide that leading scientists consider the safe upper limit for humanity. The current concentration is 389ppm, rising at about 2ppm per year.

New 350 Aotearoa affiliates 350 Cook Islands and 350 Niue tell us that the evidence from the Pacific is clear: the effects of climate change are already being felt. A global people's consensus is building: we need urgent and strong action to curb our greenhouse gas emissions.

350 Aotearoa believes that achieving a 40% by 2020 emissions reduction target is well within New Zealand's capacity.

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