NZYD
The New Zealand Youth Delegation (NZYD) to the UN climate negotiation to be held in November, while it welcomes the move, is seeking evidence of Wellington’s plan to meet the country’s weak commitments to the agreement. Facebook/New Zealand Youth Delegation

The New Zealand government ratified on Oct 4 the Paris Agreement which targets to address climate change. However, the New Zealand Youth Delegation (NZYD) to the UN climate negotiation to be held in November, while it welcomes the move, is seeking evidence of Wellington’s plan to meet the country’s weak commitments to the agreement.

The agreement is between nations which contribute to 90 percent of global emissions below 2 degrees Celsius, and if possible, below 1.5 Celsius, until 2100. The ratification is a show of commitment by the New Zealand government to global action on climate change, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says.

She admits the challenge is for the government to develop an effective plan to meet its target to reduce emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Nations which comprise 55 percent of emissions must ratify the Paris Agreement for it to come into force, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Paula Bennett
The ratification is a show of commitment by the New Zealand government to global action on climate change, Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett says. YouTube/dannewstv

But Erica Finnie, NZYD co-convenor, says in a statement, “Ratification simply says that New Zealand wants a seat at the table, but we need meaningful targets and a reliable plan to get there to show real commitment.” She points out New Zealand’s weak commitment is a reminder of the challenges ahead and provides insight into how the capacity for the Paris Agreement to prevent catastrophic climate change depends on ambition and action of country.

“Our trading partners will push us to up our game in 2018, when the United Nations will evaluate every country’s targets. We need actual reductions in emissions and we need them as soon as possible - delaying will only make it harder,” Finnie adds.

Finnie stresses commitment must not look like dodgy emissions accounting rules, purchasing faulty carbon credits, and attempts to sweep the “dairy farm in the room’ under the rug.” She says for New Zealand to be truly part of the global solutions, Wellington must live up to the expectations of its whanau in the Pacific facing now the destructive results of climate change. “New Zealand must be an ally to those states in their fight for survival,” Finnie says.

According to Scoop, national and international leaders will gather on Monday, Oct 10, in Auckland for the 9th Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference to tackle the climate change challenge.

VIDEO: New Zealand: Statement 2016 UN Climate Change high-level event

Source: United Nations