Government’s ‘climate commitment’ mask finally comes off

In a watershed moment for climate accountability, newly released documents clearly show Luxon’s Government is comfortable knowingly breaching the Paris Agreement, signed up to by John Key 10 years ago.

“For the past two years, we’ve raised alarm that the Government’s climate maths aren’t mathing. Today, we know that they’ve known that, and have been comfortable lying about it, for months,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.

“Months ago, Cabinet made decisions to halve our methane target, informed that doing so means our likely contribution to 2 - 2.7 degrees of warming.

“Two weeks ago, Minister Watts addressed the world at COP30 and declared, ‘We must keep 1.5 alive.’ This week, the Minister of Finance told us the Government was still committed to the Paris Agreement, which means doing our bit to stay below 1.5 degrees.

“If you’re looking for logic, consistency, or honesty, you won’t find any with Luxon’s Government.

“Climate change is a cost-of-living disaster. Ministry for Environment officials confirmed in Scrutiny hearings this morning that these decisions also likely mean higher costs for households and other parts of the economy.

“Staying below 1.5 degrees isn’t a matter of nifty accounting tricks. It requires reshaping our economy to stay within planetary limits necessary for life on earth as we know it.

“Luxon’s Government hopes New Zealanders are too distracted with the cost-of-living issues they’ve exacerbated, or focussed on the culture wars Ministers fan the flames of each week.

“While Ministers try to skirt accountability and responsibility, this week we won transparency from Treasury who committed, finally, to make transparent the costs of climate transition the Government continues to say it’s committed to.

“The Greens know an economy that works for people and planet is entirely within our grasp. The first step is making this a one-term Government,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

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