Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser: wants NZ to make a ’respectable contribution’ to cutting emissions.

Climate Change Issues Minister Tim Groser told TV One’s Q+A programme that New Zealand’s contribution to tackling Climate Change was ‘a Cabinet decision’ ahead of a global agreement in Paris to cut carbon emissions from 2020.

‘What I want to see is a respectable contribution for the period 2020 to what I think will be 2030.’

When asked whether the current North Canterbury drought was a normal weather event or due to climate change, Mr Groser said, ‘we’ve always had droughts, but I think the problem in terms of presenting that publically is to accept the science is very clear on this. The prevalence of these droughts will increase. Whether this particular drought is a reflection of something out of the trend line is actually difficult to say, but we should assume that unless the planet gets on top of this problem, this thing that we’ve just seen on television will be more of the case in 20 or 30 years’ time.’

Mr Groser said, ‘the number one thing – the only thing – that’s going to fix this is a global response.’

Mr Groser conceded that we are reliant on a technological change to combat the majority of our emissions.

‘Yeah, it’s a bit—right now we’re in a tight spot, I think you have to say, with respect to 70% of emissions, but I believe you have to be a very large pessimist not to see that just on the horizon there’s some relief coming for us.’

ENDS

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