Climate “consultation” – Fix Our Future

Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, May 19th, 2015 - 13 comments
Categories: climate change, global warming, spin, sustainability, uncategorized - Tags: , ,

The government is “consulting” we the people on New Zealand’s climate change target:

Consultation on setting New Zealand’s post-2020 climate change target

The Government is seeking views on New Zealand’s post-2020 climate change contribution under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This page provides information about the consultation, including how you can have your say, and provides details of public meetings and hui about the consultation.

That page contains a schedule of 12 public meetings around the country, and a link to a “discussion document” (pdf). I was going to review this discussion document, but Dave Hansford at Public Address has already done a much better job:

Multi-no-choice – National’s Idea of Climate Consultation

Earlier this month, the Government invited New Zealanders to comment on the position Climate Change Minister Tim Groser should take to COP 21 negotiations in Paris come December. To help them understand the issues, it offered some context in a discussion document, available here.

Except that it didn’t. What it gave the public instead was the same tired old litany of excuses as to why we should wait and see. The same old thinly-veiled “this is going to cost ya” threats. The same old “so much of our energy is renewable already, so we can’t really do much more” platitudes. The same execrable “if we make our farmers pay for their greenhouse gas pollution, the world could end up starving” nonsense.

It tries again to convince people that anything New Zealand does about its emissions will make very little difference to the planet. Most irksome, it seriously expects us to believe that: “… we are committed to doing our fair share and taking responsibility for our emissions,” when New Zealand’s greenhouse pollution is now 21 per cent greater than in 1990. …

Last night I attended a large public meeting in Dunedin to discuss climate change and a response to this process. There were eight excellent speakers. The youngest, representing Generation Zero spoke with the authority of those who will be most affected by the climate crisis.

Generation Zero have created another of their superb web sites, Fix Our Future, to facilitate the process of making a submission:

TAKE 5 MINUTES TO HELP FIX OUR FUTURE

For the first time in six years the Government is asking New Zealanders for feedback on what New Zealand should be doing about climate change. They’re consulting on the commitments they will present the rest of the world at the UN climate summit in Paris this November.

This is our chance to call for a plan to Fix Our Future. Take a few minutes to add your voice by submitting below.

Please do it.

13 comments on “Climate “consultation” – Fix Our Future ”

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  1. Dr Jens J. Hansen 1
    19 May 2015 at 9:46 am

    The need for in-depth consultation, as opposed to peicemeal glossing over is crucial. The arrogance of Minister Grosser is consistent with the very standards the espoused when he won a third and final term.

  2. Colonial Rawshark 2
    19 May 2015 at 10:13 am

    Global fossil fuel subsidies exceeds global government healthcare spending

    5 trillion pound subsidy to fossil fuels – calculated by IMF. The figure represents 6.5% of world GDP.

    http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/18/fossil-fuel-companies-getting-10m-a-minute-in-subsidies-says-imf

  3. Bill 3
    19 May 2015 at 10:47 am

    Apparently, the venue for the public consultation in Dunedin (Kingsgate on Smith St 6.30pm, 21st May) – has a maximum capacity of 50. Draw conclusions…

    • weka 3.1
      19 May 2015 at 10:52 am

      Sounds like an opportunity to embarrass them.

    • Sacha 3.2
      19 May 2015 at 10:57 am

      isn’t that ten times the crowd they drew in Chch?

      • Bill 3.2.1
        19 May 2015 at 11:09 am

        Actually, I’d be curious of the venue capacities for those flag consultations as well as the capacities of the other AGW consultation venues. Then there is the amount of publicity and general discussion in the public arena.

  4. Maui 4
    19 May 2015 at 11:12 am

    Thanks Anthony, I’ve just done my Fix Our Future submission.

  5. Heather Grimwood 5
    19 May 2015 at 8:08 pm

    Hope many spreading the word . Yes, the Dunedin turnout to finalise submission was really well-attended, showing much informed interest.

  6. Macro 6
    19 May 2015 at 9:55 pm

    Both the Hamilton and Auckland venues were well attended and the majority (about 98% of attendees) spoke for increased Govt action and increasing the target to 40% reduction by 2030. 1 denier at Hamilton, Bryan Leyland and another at Auckland were the only voices against.
    The officials stated that they were recording the messages, and will present a Report to Cabinet, but that it was Cabinet who would make the decision as to what was to be NZ’s position. (There was some disappointment expressed by the meeting that the report would not be made public as there was some skepticism that it would fairly represent the views expressed at the meetings.) Naturally. So I’m in the process of making a detailed submission, again. But again I fear that this is only window dressing by a cynical government. They can have a vast majority calling for action and outlining the ways and means this target may be achieved and the consequences of inaction etc etc – but they repeatedly turn a deaf ear.

  7. Maui 7
    19 May 2015 at 11:51 pm

    Just attended the Wellington one. Maybe 200-300 there? They changed the venue this afternoon, giving people even less time to attend. Anger burst from the crowd not far into the first official starting to talk, interjections and snide comments were made. The audience made some great points, I hope they don’t mind me pinching them to broadcast here:

    -Why are the Government grossly investing in motorways? (Sue Kedgley)
    -Mantra of infinite growth and that capitalism relies on 3% growth to function where we need to be making cuts.
    -Halts on population growth.
    -The modelling in the report appeared to be flawed. An economist noted that the Ministry of Environment now was nothing to what it was in the 90s when they produced robust information.
    -Where did the decision to leave out agriculture emissions from the discussion document come from, within the Ministry or from Government?
    -The accounting language of “Cost/Benefit” really downplays the situation of what we face.
    -2deg means Africa to be burnt to a crisp, and richer more temperate countries can “hopefully” still survive. Collateral damage..
    -Passing the buck onto the next generation to face whatever consequences

    Once most people had had a vent at the officials and expressed their views on climate change, one official ended the meeting with a quick pre-written statement along the lines of: “You’ve come here today and expressed your anger… your dread… your emotions..” and gave a Maori proverb to finish.

    This felt like such a smack in the face. A short and pre-written response to the public who had effectively left their hearts out on the floor showed real contempt I think, that even the officials couldn’t be bothered engaging. Then again they may have been given this directive from above.

  8. barry 8
    20 May 2015 at 7:21 pm

    It was interesting to go to a government organised environmental forum. The officials on stage were just there to provide a foil.

    Oh consultation? nahh!

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