People hold candles during Earth Hour after the lights were turned off in central Amman March 29, 2014.
People hold candles during Earth Hour after the lights were turned off in central Amman March 29, 2014. Earth Hour, when everyone around the world is asked to turn off lights for an hour from 8.30 p.m. local time, is meant as a show of support for tougher actions to confront climate change. Reuters/Ali Jarekji

New Zealanders resorted to a novel protest on Sunday at various beaches in the country to articulate their ire at New Zealand's lethargic climate change policies. Climate minister Tim Groser has been courting severe criticism on this count, despite his promises to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of the Climate Change Summit in Peru.

The protest was a unique spectacle when hundreds of people huddled together at beaches across the country, dug holes and buried their heads in the sand -- signifying the government's inaction on climate change, reported TV. Nz. The protest named as "Heads in the Sand" was organised by Coal Action Network at 13 beaches across New Zealand. The event also drew the support of Oil Free Aotearoa groups, Generation Zero, Greenpeace, ECO, Climate Justice Taranaki and Action Station.

On Target

The minister had been claiming that the country is on target for cutting emissions by 5 percent by 2020. But activists want the government to set a bigger target. The minister said there is room for optimism in climate negotiations, after the climate deal struck between the U.S. and China. These two countries accounted for 40 percent of emissions. A deal between the two has given a huge boost to the climate negotiations, the minister said.

However, the minister's stand was rejected by Oil Free Wellington member Francis Mountier, who said, New Zealand's response to climate change "is a joke". He wanted the target to be "up by 90 percent for reduction in emissions by 2050." Mountier is also angry at the proposal made by New Zealand that emission targets are not legally binding. But the minister rebuts this by claiming that New Zealand's negotiating proposal has been hailed by the U.S. as the only game in town for a long-term agreement. Groser said "heads in the sand" protest does not represent an accurate portrayal of the situation as the government has been quite serious about climate change issues.

Auckland Protest

In Auckland's Mission Bay, it was not all fun in the sun for beachgoers. About 50 campaigners gathered at the beach and protested against the government's attitude on climate change and mining. The participants urged the government to treat climate change more seriously. In Christchurch, 220 people converged at the New Brighton Beach to mark the protest. Wellington saw hundreds of people braving the foul weather by gathering at the Oriental Bay, reported NZ Herald. Jeanette Fitzsimons, spokeswoman for Coal Action Network defended the protest and said, "While the rest of the world is taking action on climate change, New Zealand's emissions are set to go through the roof."