The WWF-New Zealand has given the thumbs up to the government’s goal of getting the country to net zero emissions by 2050.
According to Minister for Climate Change James Shaw, the government welcomes the support, which came through an open letter a day the before public consultation on the proposed Zero Carbon Bill began. It was signed by more than 200 people including business leaders from Z Energy, Les Mills gyms, DB Breweries, the Body Shop and Meridian Energy, as well as the mayors of Wellington, Whanganui, Christchurch, Gisborne and Auckland.
The minister said momentum is building for the Zero Carbon Bill, with the government launching a nationwide series of public meetings to hear peoples’ views, starting June 07.
“The support we’re seeing for action on climate change shows that Kiwis don’t shy away from tackling the hard problems,” Shaw said. “We all know that making a plan for climate action now will pay off in the long term.
“Communities, businesses, farmers, iwi and ordinary New Zealanders up and down the country are already doing what they can to reduce emissions or are ready to get on board and help draw up our plan to reduce New Zealand’s impact on the climate.”
“This is about doing our bit to ensure a stable climate for future generations and acting together with other countries to get climate change under control,” he added.
