New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern commits to 50 per cent reduction in net emissions by 2030

But a complex accounting trick has some climate groups criticising the target as too low.A whopping two-thirds of the reduction could come from purchasing offshore climate offsets or other global reductions New Zealand purchases, rather than a domestic cut.As it is a “net” target it will take into account things like forestry offsets that take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, meaning the overall gross emissions will likely not reduce by as much as 50 per cent. And despite being a net target, it’s a 50 per cent reduction on gross emissions from 2005.It also uses a “carbon budget” approach which spreads the target over the years 2021-2030. In that period the reduction is instead 41 per cent on 2005 levels, compared to 30 per cent in the older NDC.Oxfam, Greenpeace, and Lawyers for Climate Action all criticised these accounting methods and said the target should be higher.“Let’s be real here, this is not our fair share. The government has changed the way they count our emissions reductions to make them look like they are doing more than they are,” Oxfam Aotearoa Executive Director Rachael Le Mesurie said.“New Zealand’s enhanced contribution to the global effort to fight climate change now represents our fair share, and is in line with what’s needed if we are to avoid the worst impacts of global warming on New Zealand,” Ardern said.“Climate change is a priority for the Government because it’s a threat to our economy, our environment and our everyday lives. Lifting our commitment is an investment in a stable climate that will benefit us all in the future.”“While we are a small contributor to global emissions, as a county surrounded by oceans and an economy reliant on our land we are not immune to the impact of climate change, so it’s critical we pull our weight.”Stuff.co.nz Get daily updates on the climate summit that will shape our future. Sign up to our COP26 newsletter here.

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/critical-we-pull-our-weight-ardern-commits-nz-to-halve-emissions-by-2030-20211031-p594q2.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_world