Government tinkers with targets while pushing mining, drilling and fracking.

Government's climate change target distinctly underwhelming and unsurprising
Yesterday, National's Climate Change Minister, Tim Grosser, demonstrated the sham which was their public consultation on climate change by announcing a target which ignored the clear public opinion at their recently held "consultation" meetings. The Government announced that New Zealand is committing to an 11% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030. This is in spite of the resounding call for a target of 40% below 1990 levels at every public meeting. Of course this was phrased in a PR spin by comparing emissions with a new baseline of 2005 to make the target look more substantial.

Yesterday's announcement was another part in the process of the Government announcing arbitrary targets which it clearly has no intentional of actually meeting. The National Government's emissions reduction targets have varied over the past six years and have been changed when it was made clear there was no chance of meeting them. In 2009 our target was 10-20% by 2020. Recently this was revised down to 5%-10%.

Oil Free Wellington spokesperson James Barber said, "the New Zealand government is still displaying clear disregard for the serious challenge posed by climate change, and disdain for the opinions of the New Zealand public."

He continued, "as our government plays around with targets and Emissions Trading Schemes to improve its image they continue to support fossil fuel exploration. We cannot have meaningful action on climate change while companies are being invited to frack, mine, and drill our natural taonga."
ENDS

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