Keys Pacific tour should prompt rethink of climate change targets

Prime Minister John Key should use his Pacific tour to educate himself on the need for stronger climate change targets to stop rising sea levels from swamping some islands.

Mr Key - accompanied by a range of politicians and officials – will visit Tonga, Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands this week.

Green Party MP Kennedy Graham urged the Prime Minister to act as a responsible Pacific neighbour and protect endangered low-lying islands by committing to stronger emission targets.

"Small islands bear a disproportionate burden from climate change. Rising seawaters threaten the very existence of nations such as Tuvalu and Kiribati. Our own Pacific region is at risk and New Zealand needs to take some leadership on this impending ecological crisis," Dr Graham, the Green Party’s International Climate Change Spokesperson, said.

"It’s time to get real on climate change. Developing countries, particularly those at severe threat from climate change, such as Tuvalu, have become very frustrated with the lack of commitment from developed countries and have come up with their own ideas for what developed countries should do."

Dr Graham said the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) wants developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2020 and 90 percent by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas concentration to below 350 parts per million. This is the level that current science indicates should avoid dangerous levels of climate change.

While Mr Key is travelling around the Pacific, New Zealanders have their chance to push for action on climate change. The Government starts a two-week national consultation tour in Wellington tomorrow (Monday July 6).

Dr Graham said public submissions are needed to pressure the Government to set an effective 2020 target for emissions before negotiations continue on an international treaty to replace the Kyoto agreement.