Govt must reduce greenhouse pollution not use ‘creative accounting’

The National Government can and should reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas pollution rather than exploit ‘creative accounting’ in order to meet its climate targets, the Green Party said today.

Mr Shaw was responding to the Climate Action Tracker report undertaken by four independent European research organisations:  Climate Analytics, Ecofys, NewClimate Institute and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.  It has developed a method to measure the fairness of governmental climate action efforts.

“It looks as though the National Government intends for New Zealand to freeload off the climate action of other countries,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw.

“The international report says that while most other governments intend cutting emissions, New Zealand may not have to take any action at all to meet either its 2020 or 2030 targets because it can hide emissions increases through ‘creative accounting’.

“The National Government should rule out using creative accounting to hide emissions increases, and develop a plan for how New Zealand will actually reduce our greenhouse gas pollution.

“The Government can implement policies that are good for the climate and good for New Zealand. For example, the Government can begin work on the Central Rail Link in Auckland, which will reduce carbon pollution and get Auckland moving again.

“The National Government needs to stop being part of the climate problem and start being part of the climate solution.”

Recent estimates show that New Zealand’s net emissions have risen 13 percent since National came to power in 2008.

 

Climate Action Tracker analysis: http://climateactiontracker.org/countries/newzealand.html

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Green Party calls for stronger action by Auckland Council to protect urban trees and native forest

The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and repla...
Read More

Story

You *wood* not believe it: Greens secure win for urban trees

The Green Party’s advocacy has secured an amendment to the Natural and Built Environment Bill at a crucial stage of the Parliamentary process to en...
Read More

Story

Forestry sector must compensate for slash damage

The Green Party welcomes today’s release of the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into slash and sediment, and are clear that the forestry industry...
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition to protect conservation lands from mining by Mineralogy International Limited

The Green Party has today launched a petition calling for conservation land to be protected from mining by big overseas companies such as Mineralog...
Read More

Story

National's drought of ideas won't help farmers facing climate change

Christopher Luxon and the National Party have once again presented another lazy, back-of-the-napkin policy to Aotearoa.
Read More

Story

Freshwater crisis needs stronger government action

New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and freshwater are in crisis and there needs to be a more ambitious Government plan to clean them up and protect agains...
Read More