Institute's approach to climate change out of step and out of date

Auckland October 24 – A New Zealand Institute report suggesting New Zealand follow not lead in solutions to climate change is irresponsible and grossly out of step with the debate, says Greenpeace.

"Institute head David Skilling seems to have stepped back in time," said Greenpeace climate campaigner Susannah Bailey. "He's effectively suggesting we do next to nothing in the face of the biggest threat that's ever faced civilisation. He has entirely missed the severity and immediacy of the climate threat.

"Thankfully, most countries worldwide have acknowledged the threat and have committed to helping address it by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.

"Mr Skilling makes it sound like New Zealand is working in a vacuum, but there's a global movement to tackle climate change and we risk being left behind and losing international credibility, negotiating power, trading partners and political allies if we don't follow through on our rhetoric to tackle climate change.

"As the Stern report into the economics of climate change points out, doing nothing to tackle climate change while there's still time could be 20 times more costly than taking action.

"The choice is not between business and the environment. The only choice if the world is to ensure a stable climate, jobs and opportunity is a low-carbon economy.

"New Zeakland can take a world leadership position on this, and it's in our interests to do so. The Government should move forward on its present timetable for introducing and passing the necessary emissions trading legislation.

"It must also ensure the scheme is as effective as possible by advocating for the strengthening of international Kyoto commitments beyond 2012 during the next negotiation round in Bali in December."

ENDS

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