Climate Change Commission's final advice: Rapid uptake of electric vehicles - at cost of more than 2000 mechanics
Watch: The Climate Change Commission has recommended sweeping changes to society so that we can be Carbon Neutral by 2050. Credits: Video - Newshub; Image - Getty Images The Climate Change Commission has issued a stark warning to the Government in its final advice: "We are not on track." New Zealand has committed to reaching net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and reducing biogenic methane emissions between 24-47 percent by 2050 - but the Government's current policies won't get us there. But Climate Change Commission chair Dr Rod Carr says transformational and lasting change is both necessary and possible, through rapid uptake of electric vehicles, changing farming practices, slashing use of fossil fuels, and growing more forests. "Current Government policies do not put us on track to meet the commission's recommended emissions budgets or the 2050 targets. As a country, we need to fundamentally change our response to climate change," says Dr Carr. "Our advice reflects the position Aotearoa is in after years of short-term thinking and delay. Emissions will not reduce immediately - there is work to do first to lay the groundwork and the time to start that is now." But the advice comes with some confronting realities, including the cost of electric vehicles replacing cars with internal combustion engines. Modelling shows that more than 2000 mechanics could be out of work by 2035. "Our recommended emissions budgets could see the number of mechanics reduce from about 17,700 in 2018 to 15,400 – 16,800 by 2035. This would mean that there would be 900 – 2,300 fewer motor mechanics in 2035 compared to in 2018."