Greta’s message should be heeded by all world and local leaders

THANK you for printing in full Greta Thunberg’s impassioned address to the UN Climate Action Summit (Weekend Mix, 28.9.19).

While Greta shamed world leaders for their ‘‘too little, too late’’ reponse to impending global catastrophe, it is we, the voters, who should be ashamed.

Elected leaders have to balance climate change initiatives against what their voters want, or be voted out of office — and still, most of us vote from blinkered selfinterest.

Let’s wake up and realise that business as usual won’t cut it. As Greta said, change is coming whether we like it or not.

At the local body elections, my vote will go to ‘‘green’’ candidates of whatever political stripe.

The Dunedin City Council has set a goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2030. I hope the incoming council will acknowledge the elephant in the room: the environmental impact of mass tourism which is not, at present, factored into the equation.

There is a glaring double standard in exhorting Dunedin residents to use their cars less while ignoring the greenhouse gases spewed out by cruise ships.

In Wellington, one expert has estimated that emissions from a single cruise ship visit are the equivalent of more than 200,000 cars per day.

Breaches of the more stringent cruise ship emission standards from 2020 will go undetected unless the Otago Regional Council starts monitoring emissions at Port Otago.

Meg Davidson

North East Valley

GILBERT Van Reenan’s letter (2.10.19) is typical of the climate alarmism spreading among the populace.

New Zealand’s contribution of CO2 into the atmosphere is about 0.1% of total global emissions.

Our leading climate scientist, James Renwick, confirmed in a recent radio interview that if New Zealand ceased all CO2 emissions, it would not have any effect on ‘‘climate change’’.

Based on the factual evidence, I think a reality check is in order for all alarmists and policymakers.

Gary Cole

Fairfield