Climate change is an issue that deserves more than hollow promises
OPINION: The world has agreed to ramp up climate action after the two-week UN climate summit in Glasgow ended in a joint compromise from nearly 200 countries. What were the most significant measures agreed in your view and is New Zealand doing enough? An MP from each side of the house gives their views. Arena Williams, Labour MP Manurewa Its well past time to move from talk to action in addressing the global climate emergency. Now COP26 has come to a close, attention needs to turn to the action countries must take to decarbonise their economies. The final agreement from COP26 included progress on a range of priority areas for the Government, such as greater ambition and international cooperation to cut emissions. READ MORE: * New Zealand increases climate pledge, aims to cut emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 * Climate policies that ignore the reality of human nature will ultimately fail * 'Incredibly overwhelmed, frustrated, stressed and sad', says former Southlander trying for MIQ spot Key parts of the final agreement were a requirement for countries to strengthen their carbon-cutting pledges, a new work programme to help accelerate climate ambition, and rules to ensure the integrity of global carbon markets and transparency in climate action reporting. There was also recognition of the need to protect human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples when taking action to cut emissions, as well as an agreement to accelerate efforts to phase down coal use and fossil fuel subsidies. The Government is already taking strides on many of the issues agreed at COP. Weve strengthened our global emission reduction target, committed to phasing out coal, and supported a just transition in parts of the country affected most by climate action. The new emissions reduction target we announced on the eve of COP26 will ensure the climate pollution New Zealand is responsible for in 2030 is half what it is today, bringing us closer to what is required to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. This year alone weve introduced vehicle emission standards for new imports, made it easier for families to purchase low-emission vehicles through the Clean Car Discount, upgraded schools and hospitals to run on clean energy, and made KiwiSaver default funds divest from fossil fuels. To stay within the agreed goal of 1.5 degrees of warming, ambition and action will need to accelerate here and around the world. The Emissions Reduction Plan we publish next year will be crucial to this. It will set the direction for climate action in New Zealand over the next 15 years. Well need to cut carbon pollution from nearly everything we do how we grow our food, get around our towns and cities, and generate energy to heat our homes. I know the Government is determined to do this in a way that enhances the role of nature-based solutions, such as wetlands and native forests, while fostering a just transition that leaves no community, family or person behind. Its the just transition that matters most to me. Stuart Smith, National MP Kaikoura It is easy to make bold promises at the annual United Nations Climate Change Summit, and those commitments and promises will be applauded and world leaders will proclaim they are doing something about climate change. Only time will tell if these become reality given that coal use is up and emissions continue to rise. Unfortunately world leaders are big on promises and poor on delivery, this is something we have become all too familiar with in New Zealand, remember KiwiBuild or light rail up Dominion Road? Promises are a starting point, but we need to know how we are going to reduce emissions and the costs of various options. This years summit in Glasgow was a disappointment for most pundits with the one exception being the pledge to reduce fugitive methane emissions from gas pipelines etc, which has no impact on our emissions but was an important development nonetheless. However, New Zealand was one of the countries that came out with a bold promise, committing to reducing our emissions by 50 percent by 2030. But wheres the plan? The Minister flew half way around the globe to tell the world that New Zealand will reduce emissions, but failed to tell the very people he represents how that will be done. To put this commitment into context, although New Zealands emissions had been going up they roughly decreased by around 6 percent last year due to the Covid-19 lockdowns. To reach the target the Government has announced we would need to reduce emissions by 6 per cent, per year, every year, if we are going to meet this target. Following the Delta outbreak and with our biggest city being largely locked up for almost 100 days, New Zealand is facing a mountain of debt as we try to rebuild and open up. Yet the Government has just announced a new climate change target without telling us how they plan to achieve it. New Zealanders need to know if the Government will use the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to lower emissions or if they will use policies, like the ute tax, which will undoubtedly lead to higher costs for Kiwis. Climate change needs to be addressed, there is no doubt about that, but Governments here and around the world shouldnt just make big and bold promises without a plan. National would start with a realistic assessment of how much it is possible to reduce emissions domestically and how we would achieve it, which we would do primarily utilising the ETS. Its easy to make big promises, but its much harder to roll your sleeves up and get the work done. This issue deserves more than hollow promises.