Emergency climate motion plan

The Government has revealed plans to pass a climate change emergency motion in Parliament next week.

An attempt was made to pass one last term but NZ First opposed it.

The motion itself would have no practical effect on laws or the running of the country but would symbolically signal that the Government and the House saw climate change as an emergency.

But Climate Change Minister James Shaw signalled that the symbolism might be joined by some sort of concrete action.

‘‘One of the things we said at the time was that it was important not to just have something that is purely symbolic.

‘‘If you are saying there is an emergency, recognising that that is not the same as a civil defence emergency, it does require an allof-government response.

‘‘This is our first opportunity in the new Government to be able to move that motion.’’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the time it was last attempted she was not opposed to declaring a climate change emergency but didn’t see it as massively important.

‘‘It’s what we invest in and it’s the laws that we pass that make the big difference, and on those grounds I think we are making good, solid progress,’’ Ardern said.

Leader of the House Chris Hipkins said Parliament would debate a motion declaring a climate change emergency as the House came back into session yesterday.

He said after leaving the House that the Government intended to pass it with its majority and support from the Green Party.

A spokesman for the prime minister confirmed the plans.

‘‘The text of that motion will be publicly released on Tuesday,’’ the spokesman said.

ACT leader David Seymour said declaring an emergency would be a ‘‘marketing stunt that won’t stop one tonne of emissions’’.

‘‘If you’ve got a policy, you don’t need to declare an emergency. If you have to declare an emergency, maybe your policy isn’t working.

‘‘What we need is a simple, effective response.

‘‘ACT would tie New Zealand’s emissions price to the prices paid by our major trading partners, so we can do our bit without pushing businesses overseas.’’