National’s climate inaction at Paris Climate Talks wins New Zealand a Fossil of the day award on day one.

30 November 2015

Earlier today, The first fossil of the day award was given to New Zealand because of John Key's comments earlier today regarding fossil fuel subsidies. Fossil of the Day is an award given by Climate Action Network International, a global coalition of environmental NGOs.

“New Zealand being awarded the Fossil of the Day award on the first day of the Paris Climate Talks is a damning indictment of New Zealand’s climate policy of inaction” said NZYD spokesperson Zoe Lenzie-Smith who received the Fossil of the Day award at the Paris Climate Talks earlier today.

“New funding announced earlier in Prime Minister John Key’s speech suggests $70 million of potentially new climate change funding per year (with $200 million of aid to Pacific nations for climate related support over 4 years, and $20 million of new research to reduce methane emissions) compared to the $84.92 million spent on fossil subsidies in New Zealand in 2013.”

“Even more galling than New Zealand’s inaction is its hypocrisy. The Prime Minister alleged that New Zealand is a leader on fossil fuel subsidy abolition, where in fact New Zealand’s fossil fuel production subsidies have increased seven-fold since Key’s election in 2008.”

“Instead of trying to pull the wool over New Zealand’s climate inaction, we should future proof New Zealand by eliminating all fossil fuel subsidies and having a plan to achieve a zero carbon economy by 2050.”

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