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

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing Aotearoa. Volu...

Action

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...