Jacinda Ardern Doesn’t Endorse ‘Dangerous’ Greenpeace Protest
Two Greenpeace activists climbed Wellington’s tallest building to “deliver a message” to Austrian oil company OMV.
Activists Abigail Smith and Nick Hanafin began their 20-storey climb at dawn yesterday which lasted all day. The building is 116 metres tall, or 29 storeys.
“It’s time to take drastic action is really what it boils down to, we need to transition to clean renewable energy,” climber Abigail Smith told Newshub.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said while she doesn’t endorse the protest due to its dangerous nature, she does understand it.
“I completely understand why people from all walks of life have concerns about climate change,” she said.
Ms Ardern says the Government has taken “significant” action to transition away from fossil fuels by ending future permits for offshore oil and gas exploration.
However, this did not extend to exploration permits for new oil and gas which were issued before the ban which means OMV can expand into previously untouched ocean. The Austrian company is the last remaining international oil company in New Zealand. It plans to drill exploratory wells off the Taranaki Coast and in the Great Coast Basin, says Greenpeace.
“We’re living through a climate emergency,” Greenpeace climate campaigner Amanda Larsson said.
“If we don’t halve global carbon emissions in just a decade we will be locked into extreme weather and heating that will threaten all life on earth including our own.” OMV is on the list of 100 companies which
have caused more than 70 per cent of the world’s climate emissions. It is currently drilling for oil in the Arctic.
OMV has been contacted for comment.