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Next Parliament must heed call for new climate law
Next Parliament must heed call for new climate law
Youth organisation Generation Zero is calling for
Parliament to heed the Parliamentary Commissioner for the
Environment’s recommendations to establish a historic new
climate change law, which align very closely with the
group’s Zero Carbon Act proposal launched in April.
Commissioner Dr Jan Wright released the report ‘Stepping Stones to Paris and Beyond’ today, which calls for the development of a climate law containing the key elements of the UK’s 2008 Climate Change Act. Generation Zero’s Zero Carbon Act proposal is based on the same UK law and shares these key elements.
“Dr Wright rightly says that climate change is the ultimate intergenerational issue. As young people we are fighting for action that gives us a shot at a thriving future,” said Lisa McLaren, national convenor for the Zero Carbon Act campaign.
“Dr Wright’s report clearly explains how New Zealand’s current climate policy approach is failing, and why we must follow in the UK’s footsteps.”
“If our elected representatives want to do the right thing for young New Zealanders – for all New Zealanders – the choice is clear. Pass the Zero Carbon Act.”
“We agree entirely with Dr Wright that it is not enough for a law like this to scrape through Parliament, and that’s why we have been pushing for cross-party support from the outset.”
“We also believe it is essential to get political consensus on a long-term target that is firmly grounded in science and consistent with globally agreed goals. We’ve proposed a target of zero net carbon emissions (excluding methane) by 2050 or sooner, subject to review by an independent climate commission before being finalised.”
“We are calling for all political parties to agree to come together after the election to take the Zero Carbon Act forward.”
The Zero Carbon Act campaign is backed by Forest & Bird, Oxfam New Zealand, WWF-New Zealand, ActionStation and others. Together the groups are running petitions which will be delivered to the next Parliament after the election.
The Young Nats, Young Labour, the Young Greens and the Young Māori Party have all recently endorsed the Zero Carbon Act.
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