In a surprise speech to a Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles
(1), US President-Elect Barack Obama has thrown down the gauntlet
to global leaders over climate change. He says all nations willing
to fight climate change have an ally in the US.
Greenpeace Senior Climate Campaigner Simon Boxer said it
followed that if countries failed to accept the realities of
climate change and failed put in place strong measures to address
it, then they were foes of the new administration.
"New Zealand is at serious risk of becoming an international
Pariah over climate, and jeopodising its international standing and
trade relations. The last thing we want is to become the equivalent
of the French Government during nuclear testing in the
Pacific."
In his address, Obama says: "Now's the time to confront this
challenge once and for all. Delay is no longer an option. Denial is
no longer an acceptable response. The stakes are too high." He says
the US cannot meet the challenge alone and needs all nations
onboard.
"I just hope he hasn't gotten wind of the new government of New
Zealand," said Boxer, "which is not even sure it believes in
manmade climate change, and in its first two weeks in power has
pledged to dismantle every single piece of New Zealand climate
policy."
Obama issued a special directive to international delegates
meeting in Poznan, Poland next month, for the next round of UN
climate talks.
"Your work is vital to the planet," he said. "While I won't be
president at the time of your meeting… once I take office, you can
be sure that the US will once again engage vigorously in these
negotiations and help lead the world toward a new era of global
cooperation on climate change."
Mr Boxer urged the New Zealand delegation heading to Poznan to
accept its international responsibility and commit to binding
emission reduction targets. (2) Greenpeace is also calling on the
Government to set a domestic emission reduction target of 30 per
cent by 2020.
Other contacts: Simon Boxer – Senior Climate Campaigner - 021905579
Kathy Cumming – Communications and Media – 021 495 216
Notes: (1) http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hvG2XptIEJk
(2) binding emissions reductions for developed (Annex 1) countries 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
Exp. contact date: 2009-06-16 00:00:00