National Government’s snub threatens fair climate deal for Pacific

The National Government is threatening to scupper a fair climate deal in Paris by failing to back a call by Australia and other Pacific nations to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, the Green Party said today.

Australia joined forces with Pacific Island nations over the weekend to call on world leaders to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, however, Climate Change Minister Tim Groser has refused to support Pacific allies and join the call for a more ambitious global target.

“New Zealand now stands apart from its Pacific allies,” Green Party MP Gareth Hughes said today.

“The National Government is putting its own short term interests ahead of meaningful action to prevent catastrophic climate damage to Pacific Islands.

“Government Ministers seem more concerned about avoiding serious action on climate change than they do about the fate of our Pacific Island neighbours.

“This is the second time in a week Tim Groser has refused to back close allies, having earlier rejected US President Barak Obama’s appeal for countries to commit to a binding review to improve on current pollution reduction targets.

“It is now widely agreed than many Pacific Islands would be uninhabitable in the future if temperatures are allowed to increase above 1.5 degrees.

“Tim Groser is trying to avoid a review to ratchet up targets because inevitably New Zealand’s inadequate target would have to increase.

“It really looks like National is spending more time at this agreement pandering to vested polluting interests in New Zealand, than trying to find the best global agreement possible.

“New Zealanders want action on climate change that they can be proud of. We don’t want to see our government putting polluters’ interests ahead of the future of our Pacific neighbours,” said Mr Hughes.

Action

RENAME, REWRITE, and REJECT the Regulatory Standards Bill

Submit your suggested changes to the Regulatory Standards Bill! Tell us how you'd change the bill and we could take it to the House!

Action

Anniversary of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill Referendum

If we were to legally regulate cannabis in Aotearoa, what kind of rules would you want to see around access, possession, use, regulations on sale, ...

Action

Save our Polytechs: Campaign Packs

Want to see more supports for our Polytechs? Use these resources to support the campaign!

Action

Save Our Polytechs Petition

Sign our petition today and join us in calling on the Minister for Vocational Education, Hon Penny Simmonds, to Save our Polytechs!

Action

Protect our tamariki - Sign the open letter

Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha. Sign our open letter today and help make that a reality!

Action

Stop Growing Homelessness

Sign our petition asking Luxon and Bishop to take action to stop homelessness increasing in Aotearoa.

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 Climate Change Announcements

Story

Luxon’s Government shreds climate consensus

Late last night, the Government announced some of the most significant sweeping changes in recent memory to destroy climate action.

Govt’s Climate Adaptation plan leaves work to be done

The Government’s National Adaptation Framework, released this morning, has a way to go when it comes to clarity for communities, support, and meani...

Govt’s downgrade of methane target an accounting trick with devastating real-world consequences

Luxon’s Government halving of methane targets under the guise of “no additional warming” is a cheap accounting trick that will cost our country dea...

Govt’s ETS auction fails for the eighth time

Another Emissions Trading Scheme auction has failed, throwing the Government’s failure on climate into stark focus.

Govt pours oil and gas on climate fire as ban repealed

Today, Christopher Luxon’s Government committed to higher power bills and fossil fuel dependence. This Government keeps choosing to undermine our r...

New study shows speed of Antarctic ice melt, Govt fans climate flames

As the Government pulls out of global climate commitments, a significant new report shows that sea ice around Antarctica is melting at unprecedente...