Press release - July 13, 2009
A 40 per cent by 2020 emission reduction target for New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions is not a “Greenpeace target”, the organisation said today.
"Climate Change Minister Nick Smith has inaccurately branded the
40% target a "Greenpeace" target, despite the fact that he knows
it's a target put forward by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change scientists and favoured by every individual and organisation
that's read the science of climate change and is taking it
seriously," said Greenpeace Executive Director Bunny McDiarmid.
"This includes Oxfam, WWF and 350.org.
"Quite simply, it's what science tells us we have to do if we're
to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. It is not a figure
pulled out of a hat, it is not the figure supported only by
environmentalists. It's the figure that we must achieve if we want
to have a chance of maintaining life as we know it.
"It is also what China, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa
are calling on developed countries to commit to if they are to
agree to a global deal in Copenhagen this December. The one will
help ensure the other."
The Government is currently running public consultation over
what target New Zealand should set for Copenhagen. See:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/nz-2020-emissions-target/
Other contacts: Bunny McDiarmid (Greenpeace Executive Director) – 021838183
Kathy Cumming – (Communications and Media) 021 495 216
Exp. contact date: 2010-04-18 00:00:00