The politics of climate change
OPINION: The Financial Times, a major international newspaper, featured New Zealand on its front page at the beginning of June. It wasn't for the right reasons.
The closing date for submissions is Tuesday, 16 July 2019.
The purpose of the Zero Carbon Bill is to establish a framework which New Zealand can use to develop clear, stable climate change policies in accord with the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement is a global effort to combat the effects of climate change by limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The bill would set greenhouse gas reduction targets into law and require that future governments continue these efforts into the future. It also seeks to:
• Set up the Climate Change Commission, an independent body that will advise and support the government to reach the targets
• Create a requirement that the government sets emission budgets every five years that will act as ‘stepping stones’ towards the ultimate goal of zero greenhouse gases by 2050
• Create a requirement that the government understands the risk of climate change (for example, rising sea levels) and produces plans to address these
Submissions can be made online by visiting: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_87861/climate-change-response-zero-carbon-amendment-bill
