NGO Climate Action Plan Gains Huge Support

Media release from Wise Response Society Inc. Alan F. Mark, Chair.
Endorsement by 328,411 kiwis is evidence people realise that achieving the many promises being made, in the lead up to the election, are all subject to restabilising the climate. "It's the elephant in the room" said Sir Alan Mark, Chair, Wise Response Society, a Dunedin-based, New Zealand-wide NGO.

Since key elements of the Climate Consensus Coalition Aotearoa (CCCA) were presented in two meetings at Parliament on 16 August last, its support among organisations and civil society in general has mushroomed. It now represents some 80 organisations.

The CCCA Plan was developed largely because of a lack of any real action by New Zealand following the Paris COP21 agreement of December 2015. "Its development was facilitated by our Society and involved some 20 concerned NGOs at two workshops in Wellington”, Sir Alan said.

Key elements of the Action plan, are achievement of net zero greenhouse gas emissions at least by 2050, continued cross-party collaboration, consistency with the Te Tiriti o Waitangi, support for a Climate Change Forum (a Stakeholder Advisory Group), a Climate Change Commission (to report to
Parliament and advise Government, modelled on the Britain's Climate Change Act, 2008), and a Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Fund (to advise on appropriate funding, including relevant research).

The GLOBE-NZ cross-party group of MPs arranged for its presentation to their group and also to a wider group of MPs at Parliament in mid August, at which Patron Sir Geoffrey Palmer described New Zealand's climate change policy as “an unholy mess”.
Professor Jonathan Boston of Victoria University discussed funding of adaptation initiatives.
There were supporting statements from Forest and Bird, GenZero, Ora Taiao and the Network Waitangi Otautahi. Sue Kedgley and Roger Blakeley spoke for Greater Wellington Regional Council Councillors and Local Government NZ.

Several members of the GLOBE-NZ Executive Committee, Dr Kennedy Graham (Convener / Green Party), Tracey Martin (NZ First), Stuart Smith (National), and the Hon David Parker (Labour) also spoke in support of addressing climate change.

The CCCA Plan complements the views of other organisations that have recently made known their concerns with climate change. This includes the Labour Party, whose leader, Jacinda Ardern, has referred to it as “the nuclear-free moment of this generation” and has just released a commendable climate change policy.

The CCCA is consistent with Globe-NZ's 'Statement of Collaborative Purpose', the Mayors Global Climate and Energy Initiative, Local Government Leaders Climate Change Declaration, Generation Zero's proposed Zero Carbon Act, and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment's Report - Stepping Stones to Paris and Beyond (July, 2017).

Given this wide and united public call for urgent action to address climate change, Sir Alan said Wise Response asserts that it must become the highest priority issue on the new government's agenda, postelection.
Sincerely, Sir Alan Mark, Chair, Wise Response Society Inc.
ENDS.
Further Information
For Immediate use. More information on the Wise Response Society Inc, is available at: www.wiseresponse.org.nz
More information on Climate Consensus Coalition Aotearoa (CCCA): www.climateconsensus.nz
Further information is available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1azCQTZ_tpPhHwTQTy1IyFDNawETWQSlY_qQVDKVYfE/edit

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