Climate Targets Irresponsible

350 Aotearoa slams the Government’s post 2020 climate change target as “just business-as-usual with the goal posts changed.” Today the government announced its post 2020 climate change target as 30% emission reduction from 2005 levels by 2030. This target is equivalent to about a 11% reduction from 1990 levels, which is less than John Key pledged at the climate negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009.

“While a 30% target might sound ok, the government is hiding behind jargon to try to convince the New Zealand public that they are behaving responsibly on climate change” said Niamh O’Flynn, National Coordinator of 350 Aotearoa.

“In reality, this target leaves NZ at the bottom of the pile with the other countries who lag behind and refuse to play fair and actually commit to reducing their emissions.”

Over 17,000 submissions were made on the government’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), and 99% of those who suggested targets, suggested emissions cuts of at least 40% from 1990 levels by 2050.

Globally, the call for action on climate change is being joined by major voices. In his encyclical, the Pope recently urged for developed countries (such as New Zealand), to take swift climate action.

“This just goes to show that we cannot rely on the government to listen to the people and lead the way on climate change. This year in Paris, Tim Grosser will not be representing New Zealand, but the views of a minority who still refuse to take climate change seriously.We need to stop dealing in jargon, and start taking real climate action. We owe it to ourselves, to our neighbours in the Pacific, and to the other nations of the world.”

ENDS

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