20 June 2012

New Zealand takes a lead on fossil fuel subsidies at Rio+20

New Zealand is leading the charge against fossil fuel subsidies as world leaders head to Brazil for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio + 20.

Non-government participants including a delegation from New Zealand have been meeting before the main event to press the more than 100 heads of state on key issues such as the elimination of the fossil fuel subsidies, oceans management and health.

Spokesperson for the New Zealand NGO platform for Rio+20, Diana Shand says there is a feeling of urgency at Rio and cutting these perverse subsidies is seen as one opportunity to reduce global reliance of fossil fuels, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and encourage economic growth. She says New Zealand may be small but it has shown a strong voice on this issue.

The New Zealand government is also playing a key role, as a member of the Friends for Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform, which includes other countries such as Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Rio+20 marks 20 years since the first conference was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This new conference is intended to renew political commitment to sustainable development and key challenges facing the world.

Diana Shand says civil society organisations are holding out hope that the Rio+20 conference will deliver an agreement around how to better manage the environment while also protecting and enhancing social and economic outcomes. But in this, civil society stakeholders are showing far greater understanding of the urgency needed in addressing these global challenges than is apparent from the text agreed on so far by governments.

The NZ NGO Platform for Rio+20 provides a collective voice for NZ based NGOs on Rio+20. Members represent a wide range of concerns and interests and are involved in work on both local and international issues. In the lead up to the conference the Platform has encouraged the NZ Government to take a positive stand on key issues. They will continue to work together to ensure that the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference protect and improve social and environmental sustainability.

ENDS

© Scoop Media