Participants of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 20 and members of YOUNGO group, with their mouths taped, take part in a protest demanding reduction in fossil fuel emissions by 2050, at the conference venue in Lima December 4, 2014. The two-week long
Participants of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 20 and members of YOUNGO group, with their mouths taped, take part in a protest demanding reduction in fossil fuel emissions by 2050, at the conference venue in Lima December 4, 2014. The two-week long UN climate summit opened on December 1 in Lima, with experts and analysts from around the world gathering to discuss melting glaciers and extreme weather patterns. YOUNGO is the youth constituency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The signs in different languages read, ";Don't discount my future." Reuters/Stringer

The Green Party in New Zealand has described Prime Minister John Key as worse than Australian PM Tony Abbott in the matter of supporting the Climate Fund initiative. The Green Climate Fund is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change efforts. "It is a grossly inadequate contribution to global efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and in helping poor countries to cope with the vagaries of the phenomenon," said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

The party said it is regrettable that the Key government was seen lagging behind the "climate reprobate" Mr Abbott of Australia in the matter of commitments to the Green Climate Fund. Strengthening the global fund is an act of grace towards developing countries with low carbon economic development and hastening the adaptation to a changing climate scenario, reported Scoop News.

The Green Party also made a comparative analysis of the contribution made by New Zealand and that of Australia, to support its contention that New Zealand is dragging feet. As per the data, on a per capita basis, and also as a percentage of GDP, New Zealand's commitment to the Green Climate Fund fall behind Australia. The Greens said New Zealand's pledge is equal to 0.0017 percent of GDP, or 86 cents per person, whereas Australia's pledge is 0.0111 percent of GDP or $9.20 per person.

Green House Emissions

According to the Green Party, New Zealand is presenting a picture of paradox. On the one hand, it makes a gesture of nominally supporting climate change initiatives. At the same time, the Key government is dramatically increasing New Zealand's greenhouse emissions. Norman said Mr John Key thinks New Zealanders care so little about poor countries in coping with climate change and "we only want to spare 86 cents per person." The Green leader noted how Australia was graceful in its action despite being called a "climate reprobate" and contributed 10 times more than what the New Zealand government committed.

The Green leader said New Zealand's Pacific Island neighbours are facing annihilation from rising sea levels and the John Key Government is still increasing NZ's greenhouse emissions by 50 percent for the next decade. To top it all, there is the open unwillingness to make a significant contribution to the global fund to cope with the perils of climate change.

NZ Contribution

It may be recalled that Prime Minister John Key has already announced that New Zealand will offer a small amount to the Green Climate Fund. Accordingly, New Zealand would contribute $3 million toward the Green Climate Fund. Mr Key also made clear that he preferred to keep the country's efforts focused on the Pacific region, where it has invested about $100 million for climate change related measures, reported New Zealand Herald. But the PM said he was hopeful of a 2020 target for carbon emission reductions, and the efforts in that direction will intensify from 2015.