"Once again, the New Zealand government has shown that its
domestic rhetoric over climate change is not matched by its
commitment to solving the problem," said Greenpeace Executive
Director Bunny McDiarmid. "It's essential New Zealand behaves more
responsibly at APEC this week."
Officials from 158 countries met in Vienna last week to agree
the next steps for negotiating phase two of Kyoto.
The final agreement concludes that a target of emission cuts in
the range of 25-40 per cent below 1990 levels, by 2020, is a useful
initial parameter to set future emission reductions by
industrialised countries. Experts say these are the sort of
reductions required to avoid dangerous levels of climate
change.
But the agreement was no thanks to the New Zealand government,
which, despite all its at-home posturing over climate change,
behaved obstructively and shamefully during the negotiations. It
objected to the goal of 25-40 per cent cuts, saying it would be too
demanding.
"There was an appalling attempt by New Zealand to water down the
agreement," said Bunny McDiarmid. "And this from a government that
claims it's a champion for sustainability and wants to lead the
world by becoming carbon neutral! There's so little time to get
this right and yet we have just been treated to a display of time
wasting and reckless self-interest from the New Zealand
government.
"Our representatives actually tried to introduce lower emission
reduction ranges that, if adopted, would lead to higher greenhouse
gas levels, and a much greater risk of dangerous climate
change.
"The position supported by New Zealand could have led to a 4ºC
global mean temperature increase or higher. To keep climate change
from spiralling out of control, we need to see emission cuts which
keep global temperature rise as far below 2 ºC as possible,
compared to pre-industrial levels.
"There is nothing defensible in the New Zealand government's
position; the only thing we can take comfort in is that it was
unsuccessful in its attempts to sink negotiations."
Ms McDiarmid said New Zealand must improve its performance at
APEC this week. "A leaked draft communiqué from APEC leaders' shows
the meetings in Sydney could be used to derail international
negotiations on continuing and strengthening the Kyoto
Protocol.
"This would be a major blow to attempts to address the crisis.
The New Zealand government must go in to bat for Kyoto and show
it's serious about solving climate change."
Other contacts: Bunny McDiarmid - 021838183
Kathy Cumming - 021 495 216
Exp. contact date: 2007-10-04 00:00:00