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Young New Zealanders announce plan to write Zero Carbon Act
Young New Zealanders announce plan to write Zero Carbon
Act
Thursday 30 June
Fed up with
politicians’ failure to meaningfully tackle climate
change, youth organisation Generation Zero is announcing
plans today to draft a law that commits New Zealand to being
zero carbon by 2050: the Zero Carbon Act.
Twenty members of the group gathered on Parliament lawn at 12:30pm to make the announcement, armed with giant zeroes and an oversized scroll depicting the proposed Act.
“Climate change is here and we are running out of time. For years our governments have got away with setting meaningless targets and avoiding real action,” says campaign spokesperson, Lisa McLaren.
“The Zero Carbon Act will see that present and future governments of any political leaning do what it takes to fix our future.”
The Act will be based on the UK’s successful 2008 Climate Change Act: a legally-binding framework that sets an emissions pathway to the long-term goal, requires that the government implement policies to meet the pathway, and sets up an independent expert body to recommend actions and monitor progress.
“To realise the safe climate goals the whole world agreed to in Paris, we must set a course to zero carbon by 2050. Failing to act will leave a terrible legacy for us and our children, but we know New Zealanders can rise to this challenge with the support of our government,” says Miss McLaren.
“We will not wait any longer while the climate crisis worsens. We have decided to draft the Zero Carbon Act ourselves and work to get all political parties to support it and pass it through Parliament.”
“We are approaching experienced lawyers and policymakers to work with us, and intend to collaborate with other organisations on the substance of the Act. We aim to have a draft ready to present to the public and to Parliament later this year.”
“This will be the most important legislation for our generation.”
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