NZ sets scene on climate action

New Zealand will continue to show the world what meaningful, ambitious and lasting climate action looks like, climate change minister James Shaw says following the closure of global climate change talks in Madrid.

Reducing transport emissions through the likes of electrifying fleets is among the aims.

As the head of the New Zealand delegation at the 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Shaw says he talked to many thinking about putting in place their own climate change legislation and using NZ’s Zero Carbon Act as a benchmark.

Talks closed with countries unable to agree fully on a provision of the 2015 Paris Agreement known as Article 6 which concerns the role of carbon markets and carbon trading in helping countries to fulfil their emission cutting pledges.

“We should acknowledge that some important progress was made, which is positive.
But, unfortunately, we will have to wait another year to get it all sorted,” Shaw says.

“We are still on track towards a future where we are all playing our part to solve the challenge of climate change, but we are not going to get there unless countries are working more closely together.

“Carbon markets must have fair rules and ensure genuine emissions reductions, which is why getting an agreement on the rules countries should stick to has been a priority for New Zealand since the world committed to climate action in Paris in 2015.”