Climate change duplicity gets worse and worse

New Zealand’s climate change ambassador, Adrian Macey, revealed last night that our emissions reduction target isn’t twenty or even ten percent by 2020, but much less, the Green Party said today.

“This is consistent with the Government’s pathetic ETS, which will not reduce emissions at all, but encourages them to grow,” Jeanette Fitzsimons, Green Party Climate Change Spokesperson said.

“It is clear we cannot rely on our Government to do anything to reduce the serious risk of climate change.”

The country’s climate change ambassador and head negotiator at UN talks admitted New Zealand could backtrack on its August target if the outcome of UN negotiations is against its preferences. Adrian Macey said: “If our conditions are not met we reserve the right to drop (our target) below ten percent.”

The ten to twenty per cent target was always accompanied by a host of conditions very unlikely to be met. They relate to forestry rules, access to every type of cheap carbon credit overseas, and targets by developing countries,” Ms Fitzsimons said.

“The Government set the bar so high that it knew it wouldn’t have to follow through on a weak emissions target.

"Most countries have set a target they will commit to regardless of what others do, and a higher target if others take action. New Zealand has demanded major action from others before it will even commit to 10%.

“Citizens and businesses who don’t think that this is good enough will need to take action themselves, as it is clear that there will be no leadership on this issue,” Ms Fitzsimons said.