Clark will meet with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today
and both leaders will discuss their views on climate change at this
week's Australia New Zealand Climate Change and Business conference
in Auckland.
Also, international climate negotiations kick off in Ghana later
this week, as does the Pacific Islands Forum.
"Real vision and real commitment to tackle climate change must
emerge from these crucial meetings. Clark and Rudd need to do more
than share views on climate, they need to act. Developed nations
must set emissions reduction target of at least 25 - 40 per cent by
2020," said New Zealand Senior Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer.
"Our political leaders continue to tip toe around the climate
change issue. Meanwhile our Pacific neighbours are already paying
the price of inaction."
Mr Boxer's comments follow the release yesterday of an open
letter from 100 representatives of Asia Pacific NGOs, urging Clark
and Rudd do more to help the Pacific with climate change, in
particular increased immigration and resettlement.
"There seems a real lack of urgency over the biggest global
crisis we face," said Mr Boxer. "At no other time in history will
humanity's future be so determined by decisions made today. New
Zealand needs to lead at these climate change meetings; anything
less will earn us the title of climate laggard, not leader.
"We expect a much better performance from New Zealand - be it on
the international stage, in the region or standing up to big
business lobby at home. The government must be prepared to back up
its rhetoric with action, by first addressing domestic emissions,
then helping strengthen international commitments.
"In New Zealand we've got our biggest polluting sector -
agriculture - excluded from climate legislation for the next five
years, agricultural nitrous oxide emissions now outstripping road
transport emissions and a deforestation for corporate dairy crisis;
none of which is being addressed.
"It's time New Zealand's climate rhetoric was backed up with
strong action. We hope for a better display of commitment in coming
weeks."
Greenpeace is calling for New Zealand to set a domestic
emissions reduction target of 30 per cent by 2020.
Other contacts: Simon Boxer – Senior Climate Campaigner 021 905 579
Kathy Cumming – Communications - 021 495 216
Exp. contact date: 2008-09-19 00:00:00