Oxfam Climate Change Election Debate

An environmental disaster is unfolding in Tauranga, 750,000 people are on the verge of starvation as a result of the worst drought in 60 years in the Horn of Africa, and Thailand is being devastated by the worst flooding in half a century. With just over a month until Election Day, are key election issues like climate change and foreign affairs getting the attention they deserve? To see where parties stand, Oxfam is hosting a series of election debates (http://oxf.am/4aK) and the second, on climate change, will be in Auckland next week.

Participants:
Hon Dr Nick Smith - National Party
Hon David Parker - Labour Party
Dr Kennedy Graham - Green Party

Chairperson:
Barry Coates – Executive Director, Oxfam New Zealand.

WHEN:
Wednesday November 2, 6 – 7.30pm

WHERE:
Room OGGB 4 (260-073), School of Business, University of Auckland

BACKGROUND

In a world where droughts, forest fires, cyclones, floods and other extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, the effects are felt first and worst by those who have contributed the least to the problem – including our neighbours in the Pacific. Climate change has a disproportionate effect on developing countries, which are least equipped to protect themselves from the impacts, while harming food supplies and threatening to reverse progress on the Millennium Development Goals.

New Zealand's per capita emissions are the 11th highest globally – we have a moral responsibility to do our fair share in cutting emissions and helping vulnerable communities, especially those in the Pacific.

Oxfam's 2011 climate change election debates are an opportunity for the public to engage with representatives from our largest parties on their vision for the future.

The debate will feature electronic “clickers” that allow the audience to vote in real time on responses by each candidate. Questions for candidates are being taken in advance at http://oxf.am/4ar. There will also be time for questions from the audience during the debate.

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