Greenpeace deposited over 30 porcelain toilets on parliament grounds. The activity coincides with Parliaments speech from the Throne and the 9th day of UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland. Greenpeace is calling on the NZ delegation currently at the UN talks to adopt binding emission reduction targets.
The activity coincides with Parliament's Speech from the Throne
and the 9th day of UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland. Members of
the public have been invited to come to the toilet display to have
pictures taken that will then be sent to the UN climate talks and
shown to delegates from New Zealand and all other countries in
attendance.
"Prime Minister John Key must start taking the threat of climate
change seriously, and instruct our delegation in Poznan to do the
same," said Greenpeace Senior Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer.
"So far we've seen our representatives pleading special
treatment and trying to weasel out of international obligations.
It's embarrassing for New Zealand, economically dangerous in the
long term and bad news for the climate.
The Poznan talks are the half mark in two years of intense UN
negotiations, which will culminate in Copenhagen in December 2009.
"If a deal is not reached at Copenhagen, future generations will
have political leaders like John Key to blame for runaway climate
change," said Boxer.
"A clear work plan needs to be borne out of Poznan if a deal is
to be reached in Copenhagen. New Zealand must agree to adopt
binding emission reduction targets at the Poznan meeting." (1)
"Thanks to National's dismantling of New Zealand climate policy
and our past behaviour at these talks (2), our reputation is in
tatters. Thanks to John Key's climate backtrack New Zealand's
clean, green image is now looking dirty under the rim.
It is up to John Key to save New Zealand's credibility,
currently we're at risk of becoming an international climate
pariah, with potential impacts for exports from a global consumer
backlash."
Other contacts: For interviews and further information contact;
Suzette Jackson, Communications Manager - 021614899 Simon Boxer, Senior Climate Campaigner 021 905 579 Jim Footner - Greenpeace New Zealand climate campaigner in Poznan. NOTE: can be reached via Suzette Jackson
VVPR info: For images and video footage, please contact Michelle Thomas - 02102733730
For a full media briefing on Poznan, go to: http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/poznan
Notes: (1) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has specified that developed countries like New Zealand need to be signing up to binding emissions reductions of between 25-40% by 2020 (on 1990 levels) and an overall emissions reduction target for developed (Annex 1) countries for the period 2013 - 2017 that is consistent with achieving the above reductions by 2020