New data shows Govt’s Paris Climate Conference funding announcement actually a cut

Data obtained by the Green Party shows that the National Government’s funding announcement at the Paris climate change conference is a cut to assistance to help other countries deal with climate change.

In December 2015, John Key announced $200 million in ‘climate-related aid’ over the next four years. However, information obtained by the Green Party under the Official Information Act reveals that in the previous three years to 2015 the Government had spent $190 million on ‘climate related support’. Averaged over four years, the $200 million announcement therefore represents a decrease in financial assistance by just over $13 million per year.

“John Key went on the world stage and told world leaders that he would invest $200 million to help countries deal with climate change. In reality, he cut funding,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw.

“The $200 million funding over the next four years is actually a $13.3 million cut per year, compared to the previous level of funding.

“The Prime Minister made it seem like he was providing new money to help people in the Pacific cope with a changing climate, but it was actually a decrease.

“This is yet another example of the National Government fudging the numbers to make itself look good. The Government is trying to look like it is being proactive when really they are cutting funding; similar to when they misled the New Zealand public over fossil fuel subsidy reform at the same conference.

“The Government’s actions, or rather inaction, is actually quite embarrassing. We should be doing our fair share to combat climate change and its effects.

“Right now the Government is helping people in Fiji recover from Cyclone Winston, but the Pacific Islands desparately need more than just an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff,” said Mr Shaw.

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