New Report Shows National Failing on Climate Change

Friday, 13 December 2013, 3:33 pm
Press Release: Generation Zero

13 December 2013

New Report Shows National Failing on Climate Change

The Sixth National Communication on Climate Change released today by the New Zealand Government shows that, despite all its rhetoric, National's climate change response is a failure, according to youth climate group Generation Zero.

The report shows that:

• Greenhouse gas emissions from every sector (energy, transport, industrial processes, agriculture, forestry and waste) are projected to be higher in 2030 than they were in 2011 under current government policies;

• Total gross emissions (excluding net emissions from forestry) are projected to grow from 72,834.9 Gg CO2-equivalent in 2011 to 82,244.2 Gg CO2-e in 2030: a 38% increase since 1990; and

• The combined effect of the Government’s current climate policies is projected to decrease gross emissions by just 0.4% in 2030 compared with a ‘no policies’ scenario.

“This report shows very clearly that our current Government is doing next to nothing to move New Zealand forward to a prosperous low carbon future,” said Generation Zero spokesperson, Paul Young.

“This lack of direction is locking New Zealand into a high carbon future and an economy which will become increasingly uncompetitive in the 21st century.

“No matter how many times Minister Tim Groser says ‘fair share’ it doesn’t hide the fact that, on every possible measure, our carbon pollution is projected to increase under current policies.

“The Government seems to think it can hide behind rhetoric and creative accounting, but the international community can see through this.”

The 2013 Climate Change Performance Index by Germanwatch and Climate Action Network ranked New Zealand 41st in the world with a “very poor” grade for its climate policy.

Mr Young: “New Zealand has huge opportunities to lead the clean energy transition and be a true South Pacific success story. We need smart leadership to make that story a reality.”

More information on New Zealand’s Sixth National Communication on Climate Change
The full report can be found at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/nz-sixth-national-communication/index.html. See Tables 5.1 and 5.16.

More information on the Climate Change Performance Index
The Climate Change Performance Index is an instrument to enhance transparency in international climate politics. See the 2013 index here: http://germanwatch.org/en/5698

About Generation Zero
Generation Zero is an organisation of young New Zealanders working to cut carbon pollution through smarter transport, liveable cities and independence from fossil fuels. See http://www.generationzero.org.nz

ENDS

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