Press Release – Green Party

The Government’s greenhouse gas emissions target announced today is little more than green-washing, said the Green Party. Climate Change Minister Nick Smith today announced the Government’s long term target of a 50 percent reduction in New Zealand … Govt climate change target is green-washing

The Government’s greenhouse gas emissions target announced today is little more than green-washing, said the Green Party.

Climate Change Minister Nick Smith today announced the Government’s long term target of a 50 percent reduction in New Zealand greenhouse gases emissions from 1990 levels by 2050.

“This Government has set an unambitious* long term target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions,” said Green Party Co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson Dr Russel Norman.

“What’s worse, they have not taken any steps that would help us get there — in fact they are doing the opposite,” said Dr Norman.

“Their Energy Strategy prioritises mining and drilling for more carbon-intensive fossil fuels, including dirty coal in the South Island.

“They are spending billions on new motorways that will increase the oil-dependent transport of people and freight.

“They are subsidising irrigation schemes to enable even greater expansion in intensive industrial dairy, which will increase our greenhouse gas emissions.

“They weakened the Emissions Trading Scheme so that taxpayers subsidise polluters to pollute, and as a result it will not reduce emissions even 1 percent.

“It is simply green-washing to tell us they have a target to reduce greenhouse emissions in the distant future when their actions in the present increase emissions.

“I say judge a man by what he does, not what he says,” said Dr Norman.

“If they were serious about a target they would set milestones that they could be held accountable for, not a target that is 13 electoral cycles away.

“We need real action now, at every level of Government, to actually reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and support a transition to an economy that is resilient to climate change and high oil prices.

“A long term target is only useful if it is ambitious, backed up by meaningful short term targets, and investment in renewable energy, public transport and a smart green economy.

“Climate change won’t go away until we do something about it — the sooner we act to reduce emissions, the better off we will be,” said Dr Norman.

*The UN IPCC, the scientific advisory body on climate change, has stated that industrialised countries (including New Zealand) need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 80-95% by 2050.

ENDS

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