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https://theconversation.com/unambitious-and-undermined-why-nzs-latest-climate-pledge-lacks-the-crucial-good-faith-factor-248877>
"The announcement of New Zealand’s new climate pledge under the Paris Agreement
was met with sharp criticism last week.
The agreement commits nations to provide a new pledge, known as a Nationally
Determined Contribution (NDC) every five years. But it also requires each
pledge to be a “progression beyond” the previous one.
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand would commit to
reducing emissions by 51-55% below 2005 levels by 2035, which is only 1-5%
above the current NDC of a 50% cut by 2030.
Technically, the new NDC represents a progression, albeit the smallest possible
one. It was criticised as underwhelming and unambitious to combat climate
change, raising the question whether the coalition government has done enough
to comply with its international obligations.
The commitments of each member nation should align with the Paris Agreement’s
purpose to hold global average temperature rise well below 2°C above
pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to keep it at 1.5°C.
But the agreement also requires that each country’s NDC reflects its “highest
possible ambition, reflecting its common but differentiated responsibilities
and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances”.
Does the government’s announcement to step up emissions cuts by as little as 1%
really represent New Zealand’s highest possible ambition in present
circumstances?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
