NZ failing to lead on climate, says activist
Primeminister Jacinda Ardern announced no new climate initiatives while speaking at a global climate summit early yesterdaymorning – a move that will disappoint local activists.
It was hoped Ardern might lift the ambition of the country’s Paris Agreement pledge. She saidwork was underway to adjust this target, also known as a Nationally Determined Contribution.
‘‘We will lift our ambition because we must,’’ she told the meeting. But, unlike other nations, she did not make a firm commitment during the event.
US President Joe Biden hosted the climate summit, as amilestone on the road to amajor UN conference set to be held in Glasgow in November, the postponed COP26 meeting.
Biden’s announcement – to cut US emissions in half by 2030, compared to 2005 levels – was one of the biggest of the summit. He also pledged to double the climate finance the US will provide to other countries, from 2024.
Oxfam New Zealand’s Jo Spratt said Biden’s pledge shows up Ardern’s Government. ‘‘President Biden’s new climate target to halve their emissions demonstrates that he and his administration are serious about tackling the climate crisis, and really puts the heat on the New Zealand government to at least match this level of ambition, or else get left further behind.’’
New Zealand is failing to be a leader or even a fast follower in the climate crisis, Spratt added in a statement. ‘‘Our emissions are continuing to go up, and we are not contributing our fair share of climate finance to those on the frontlines of climate breakdown.’’
Ardern was one of 40 world leaders invited to attend the meeting. Chinese president Xi Jinping, Russian president Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also appeared. The Earth Day-aligned event was livestreamed, so the public could watch.
Countries including Canada and Japan joined Biden in announcing new climate targets.
Chinese president Xi reiterated his country would ‘‘strive to peak’’ emissions by 2030. He promised to strictly limit new coal consumption over the next five years and phase the fossil fuel down during the following five years.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisonwas criticised on social media for excluding exports when claiming during his summit speech that his country has cut emissions by 36 per cent.
Ardern spoke at 3.15am New Zealand-time. She outlined four steps our country has taken to limit climate change: pricing carbon including agricultural emissions by 2025; mandatory disclosures of climate-related financial risks; ending fossil fuel subsidies and financing adaptation.
Ardern said climate aid for vulnerable countries – including in the Pacific – has increased, but support remains low.
‘‘We must do better to support countries to adapt to the effects of climate change. The numbers we are discussing are beyond astronomical. Globally, fossil fuel subsidies total around US$500 billion a year. This is five times our annual climate finance goal of US$100B a year. Imagine what diverting trillions in mobilised finance could do to help us achieve our collective goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels.’’
Greenpeace executive director Russel Norman also expressed disappointment, following the speech. ‘‘Ardern is encouraging other countries to follow New Zealand’s lead on climate. Quite frankly, that’d be a disaster, considering our Government is too timid to regulate our biggest climate polluter.’’
The Government must limit climate-damaging agricultural practices, he said in a statement. ‘‘What works is cutting the bad stuff and making polluters pay, while making it easier for farmers to do the right thing. That means legislation to phase out synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and imported feed like palm kernel extract, a price on agricultural emissions, and support for farmers to switch to regenerative organic farming methods. The cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser was a first step in the right direction, now we need to treat climate change as if it really were an emergency.’’