Don’t cut emissions

With reference to your editorial of March 24, saying that New Zealand needs a climate change plan as a result of the Paris climate agreement, New Zealand does indeed need a climate change plan – but not any plan that requires drastic reduction in carbon emissions.

Cutting carbon usage from sources such as industry and land would gut the national and global economy, and make it difficult to feed and house people at a time when the population is growing and more people globally are coming out of poverty than ever before.

If a serious plan were implemented for bringing the global temperature ‘‘back into balance’’ it would have to be both substantial in its social and economic impact and held to over a period of at least 30 years. This is highly unlikely given the negative social and economic consequences. It would be irrational for both governments and national populations.

New Zealand signing up to the agreement and doing anything serious about it is a waste of time and money. It would be like tilting at a windmill on a lame nag with a broken lance.

Far better for governments to plan for living with a warming planet and rising sea levels. That, in all likelihood, would be both tenable and sustainable. ANTHONY NAGANATHAN Island Bay