Wellington, New Zealand — Greenpeace New Zealand has used the humble banger to demonstrate the gulf between National and Labour party rhetoric over climate change and real action. "Both major parties are desperately trying to outdo each other with talk on climate change, but neither has come up with real solutions to the problem," said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Susannah Bailey. "It equates to a whole lot of sizzle and no sausage."

Greenpeace hosted a solar-powered BBQ on parliament grounds today to highlight the difference between talk on climate change and substantial solutions to the problem. Greenpeace also erected a billboard in central Wellington with the words 'Climate change waits for no politician. We need real action NOW'.

"Labour and National are failing to produce bold enough policies to meet the challenge of climate change," said Ms Bailey. "They've set inadequate goals which may sound good, but will achieve little.

"The Prime Minister brandishes buzz words like "sustainability" and "carbon neutral", but slogans won't reduce New Zealand's skyrocketing emissions.

"Yes, the Labour government is moving to implement an emissions trading scheme, but indications are it will suffer from serious shortcomings. Crucial sectors such as agriculture are likely to be exempt for some years, which will seriously undermine efforts to reduce emissions, given agriculture accounts for nearly half of all New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions.

"Also the Government continues to contradict its "carbon neutral" ambition by taking such backward steps as granting massive oil and gas exploration permits in the Great South Basin.

"Meanwhile the National Party's "50 by 50" (1) target might sound good but won't go anywhere near what's needed to fix the problem - the target is set too low to avoid dangerous levels of climate change and the proposal will initially only apply to electricity sector emissions, which again ignores New Zealand's agricultural emissions. Besides, National has provided no detail on how the target would even be achieved.

"If we want to avoid the most catastrophic climate impacts, we must reduce emissions 30% from 1990 levels by 2020 and 90% by 2050. To do so, we need more than an emissions trading scheme and more than slogans.

"We need all our political leaders to set meaningful emission reduction targets, put a price on all greenhouse gas pollution, and instate strong policies to encourage renewable energy, energy efficiency and public transport.

Carbon neutrality and sustainability are just catchphrases until there's real action on the ground."

ENDS

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