Key even worse than Abbott on Climate Fund
The John Key Government is lagging behind even climate reprobate Tony Abbott on commitments to the Green Climate Fund,
the global fund designed to support developing countries with low carbon economic development and adaptation to a
changing climate.
Analysis prepared for the Green Party by the Parliamentary Library, shows that on a per capita basis, and as a
percentage of GDP, New Zealand’s commitment to the Green Climate Fund ranks behind even Australia. New Zealand’s pledge
is equal to 0.0017% of GDP, or 86 cents per person. Australia’s pledge is 0.0111% of GDP or $9.20 per person. The Green
Climate Fund is integrated into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“Most New Zealanders will be shocked to find out that, not only is the John Key Government dramatically increasing New
Zealand’s greenhouse emissions, but we are making a grossly inadequate contribution to global efforts to help poor
countries cope with climate change,” Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.
“John Key thinks New Zealanders care so little about helping poor countries cope with climate change that we only want
to give 86 cents per person.
“Even the Australian Government, rightly condemned as a climate reprobate, is giving over ten times as much per person
as the New Zealand Government.
“New Zealand’s Pacific Island neighbours are facing annihilation from rising sea levels and, not only is the John Key
Government planning to increase NZ’s greenhouse emissions by 50% in the next decade, it is not willing to help make any
significant contribution to the global fund to help developing nations cope.
“The New Zealand Government has been excoriated at the Climate Conference for failing to make any serious attempt to cut
greenhouse emissions. The abysmal contribution to the Climate Fund only makes that worse.
“Climate change is real and it’s happening and it’s time John Key realised that there is no planet B to go to,” Dr
Norman said.
Green Climate Fund Pledge amounts (11 December 2014)CountryPledge (US$million)GDP 2013 (US$ billion)Population (millions)Pledge per capita (US$ per person)Pledge as % of GDPPledge per capita RankPledge as a % of GDP RankAustralia167.01,505.9223.3197.160.0111%1515Belgium65.0508.27511.1625.820.0128%1614Canada264.71,826.7735.1057.540.0145%1313Czech Republic4.5198.4510.5160.430.0023%2021Denmark71.6330.6145.59112.810.0217%78Finland100.3267.4125.45118.400.0375%34France1,000.02,807.3163.6615.710.0356%55Germany1,000.03,635.9680.812.380.0275%97Indonesia0.3870.275247.9540.000.0000%2525Italy313.42,071.9659.6855.250.0151%1711Japan1,500.04,898.53127.34111.780.0306%106Korea100.01,304.4750.221.990.0077%1817Luxembourg6.360.4020.53711.730.0104%1116Mexico10.01,260.92118.3970.080.0008%2424Monaco0.46.1230.03112.900.0065%618Mongolia0.511.5162.8820.170.0043%2319Netherland125.0853.80616.8027.440.0146%1412New Zealand3.0181.5744.4820.670.0017%1922Norway258.0512.5815.09650.630.0503%22Panama1.040.4673.7210.270.0025%2220Spain16.31,358.6946.610.350.0012%2123Sweden541.3558.9499.63556.180.0968%11Switzerland100.0650.4318.00312.500.0154%810United Kingdom1,126.02,523.2264.08717.570.0446%43United States3,000.016,768.05316.3739.480.0179%129
GDP sources from the IMF World Economic Outlook Databases, http://www.imf.org/external/ns/cs.aspx?id=28 (this gives GDP in US dollar)
New Zealand climate facts:
• Currently fifth highest emissions per capita in the OECD and they are increasing. [1]
• 20 percent increase in net emissions under National. [2]
• Ministry for Environment report released this month shows a 50 percent increase in NZ’s projected net emissions. [3]
• Advice from officials is that the gap between our reduction commitments and reality is widening. [4]
• Ministry for the Environment briefing indicating New Zealand is currently on track to miss our 2050 emissions
reduction target. [5]
ENDS