NZ Youth Delegation call parliament to #FutureproofNZ
New Zealand Youth Delegation call parliament to #FutureproofNZ
19 November 2015
The New Zealand Youth Delegation (NZYD) bought messages sent by young New Zealanders to Copenhagen/Cancun in 2009/10, woven into the shame of a fern to Parliament and asked New Zealand political leaders to #FutureProofNZ by taking strong action on climate change.
These messages, originally sent by young people from all around New Zealand ahead of the 2009 Climate Talks in Copenhagen and 2010 talks in Cancun are a timely reminder to New Zealand’s parliament of the need to take urgent climate action. With New Zealand’s emissions having risen by over 25% since 1990, NZYD want to hold leaders to account for the promises that they made and repeatedly broken.
Representatives from the Labour and Green Parties - Denise Roche, Julie Anne Genter, Ruth Dyson, Megan Woods, Sua William Sio, Louisa Wall and Jenny Salesa welcomed the NZYD to Parliament and held the banner with them.
“We are bringing these messages to Parliament again to remind our country’s leaders of the urgent need to protect our children and young people from the threats posed by climate change. It’s shameful that after 6 years, the concerns of young people in this country about the issue that will affect our generation the most is still gone unheard.”
“It’s time that Parliament takes strong action to future proof New Zealand and protect our Pacific neighbours by cutting fossil fuel subsidies and taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a clean energy future.”
“New Zealand’s lack of effective action on this issue since 2009 for New Zealand’s international reputation, dangerous for the safety of the world’s climate and places New Zealand’s future prosperity and safety at risk, ”said New Zealand Youth Delegation Spokesperson James Young-Drew
ENDS