New Zealand climate change ambassador elected to vice-chair of Kyoto Protocol negotiations

Greenpeace New Zealand congratulates New Zealand’s Climate Change ambassador Adrian Macey on his election to vice-chair of the Kyoto Protocol negotiations.

“This is a significant international endorsement of Adrian Macey’s skills and experience as a diplomat,” said Greenpeace New Zealand’s political advisor in Bonn, Geoff Keey.

Ambassador Macey was elected last night (NZ time) at the closing plenary of Kyoto Protocol negotiations in Bonn despite earlier objections of some countries that did not want a New Zealand chair.

“Ambassador Macey has a huge challenge ahead of him to help shepherd developed countries through the process of adopting new commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.”

“This will be a massive challenge because the combined pledges of developed countries are well below the level needed to avoid dangerous levels of climate change and some are reluctant to fulfill their promise to take on a second commitment under the Protocol.”

“Adrian Macey’s nomination faced a difficult road because some developing countries doubted New Zealand’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. The Government should actively support Ambassador’s Macey’s role by pledging to take on new and ambitious commitments under the Protocol.”