IPCC report shows need for action on climate change

The latest IPCC report on climate change highlights the need for the next Government to take urgent action on the issue. The report shows that climate change is getting worse and is leading to more extreme weather events.

"For the future of the planet and our children we need to act now, but instead National is taking us backwards with its proposals to further water down the ETS and hand out big subsidies for polluters," said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

"This report highlights the dangers of our inaction, climate change is only going to get worse and lead to more and more extreme weather events. The cost of doing nothing now will be astronomical in the long term.

"If we continue down the National Government's current path of weakening our climate change response we will contribute to out of control climate change. And we will lose the opportunity to be global leaders for a clean, green economy. Our reputation as being green will be lost for ever.

"Transitioning to a clean green economy is a priority for us in this election. We can secure our economic and environmental future at the same time.

The IPCC report found that the changing climate is leading to unprecedented extreme weather and climate events.

The IPCC report comes just a week after the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report that found we have only five years before we lock in irreversible climate change.

"We urgently need to bring in a robust package of measures to reduce greenhouse gasses as outlined in our Getting There plan - this would include a strong ETS that actually reduces our emissions. We need to start the transition to a clean, green economy that will ensure our long term prosperity.

"To help achieve this vital transition the Green Party has developed a plan to create 100,000 green jobs.

The Green Party plan will create 100,000 new jobs through direct government investment in housing, by ensuring our state-owned energy companies capture the massive export opportunities in the renewable energy sector, and, most importantly, by shifting the drivers for green jobs in the private sector.