CTU MEDIA RELEASE
16 April 2007

CTU Calls On Climate Change Sceptics To Get Real

“It is irresponsible for the climate change sceptics to suggest that there is no climate change threat,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today. “Its time they got real.”

The New Zealand Climate Science Coalition last week challenged the CTU to front up with evidence of greenhouse gas harm.

“It may be that these sceptics will advocate doing nothing until it is too late but the CTU is certainly taking a precautionary approach on behalf of working New Zealanders and their families who will inevitably bear the brunt.”

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said on April 6 that observational evidence from all continents and most oceans shows that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases.”

“In February the panel concluded that it was at least 90% certain that human emissions of greenhouse gases rather than natural variations are warming the planet's surface.”

“The public are in no doubt that climate change is an issue, with a public opinion poll last week finding 77% percent think climate change is a problem to be dealt with now or urgently.”

“For unions committed to a programme which will reduce poverty, raise living standards, create decent jobs, and provide for fair outcomes, there is now an inescapable need to reconcile the environmental consequences of our production and consumption alongside the efficiency of its generation and the fairness of its distribution.”

“The CTU submission, released last week, sets out a union contribution to this debate. Our preferred approach rests on a regulatory approach alongside direct action to reduce emissions, rather than an emissions trading system.”

ENDS

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