Auckland Saturday May 23, 2009 - Lucy Lawless, Stephen Tindall, Cliff Curtis, Peter Gordon and Jim Salinger are among a group of high-profile New Zealanders joining with Greenpeace to call for strong climate action.

They’re ambassadors for Greenpeace’s new Sign On climate campaign, which aims to generate an unprecedented level of support for John Key to sign on to a 40 per cent by 2020 emission reduction target at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December.

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Actor Lucy Lawless

The campaign is being launched today at Lucy Lawless’ house in Auckland. “I’m signing on because there’s no Planet B,” said Lawless. “There’s nowhere else for our kids and grandchildren to go. We need to get on with the business of tackling climate change. Our Government needs to sign up to a 40 by 2020 target.”

“We need to act on climate change for two reasons,” said Stephen Tindall. “Firstly, I’m a grandfather and I want my granddaughters to enjoy the New Zealand I’ve enjoyed. Secondly I’m a businessman. Unless we hold true to the ideals of New Zealand’s clean, green image, we could lose our reputation, which could mean hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports and our whole standard of living could drop.”

Actress Keisha Castle Hughes, Founder of 42 Below Vodka Geoff Ross, Huffer clothing label, farmer Max Purnell, journalist Francesca Price and actor Rhys Darby are also Sign On ambassadors.

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Geoff Ross, Director of The Business Bakery and founder of 42 Below Vodka is one of a number of high profile New Zealanders who're part of Greenpeace's Sign On campaign.

“Copenhagen is the most important meeting of our time,” said Price.

Castle Hughes: “It’s really important for me that my kids have access to the same resources that I’ve had the privilege of having. Our Government needs to do the right thing in Copenhagen in December.”

“Yes climate change is a bloody big issue, but it’s also a bloody big business opportunity,” said Ross. “Whether we like it or not, the world is going to move to deal with climate change. We have the ability as a country to lead the charge on this. New Zealand has the best credentials. If we can create the brands and services to help clean up the globe, we’ll be the winners economically.”

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Actor Keisha Castle-Hughes

The campaign aims to get as many New Zealanders as possible Signing On to support the 40 per cent by 2020 target. It will largely play out online at www.signon.org.nz.

Jim Salinger, Nobel-Peace prize winning climate scientist who until recently worked at NIWA, has been working on climate change for over three decades. “It’s a huge issue that’s going to affect our children, our grandchildren and all life on this planet. I urge the New Zealand Government to Sign On to 40 per cent by 2020 emissions reduction target.”

“If New Zealand doesn’t do its bit for climate change this year, we will look back in 10 years time and regret it,” said Bonnie Soper, who plays Morgan on Shortland Street.

Greenpeace Executive Director Bunny McDiarmid: “The mere fact that all these people from so many walks of life, should send a strong signal to the government that New Zealanders support strong action on climate change. It really is now or never. At no other time will the legacy of today’s leaders be so determined by how they respond to this single issue. They will be held accountable because the stakes are so high.”

“It’s common sense really,” said actor Cliff Curtis. “Clean up our planet and it will be a better place to live.”

ENDS

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