Tuesday, August 11, 2009

NZ announces emissions targets

By New Zealand correspondent Kerri Ritchie

ABC News Online,  Tue Aug 11, 2009

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/11/2652389.htm?site=news


The New Zealand Government has announced targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions - but environmentalists believe they do not go far enough.

New Zealand's emissions make up less than 0.5 per cent of mankind's overall greenhouse gas pollution.

But the country is in a tricky position because half of its greenhouse gases come from the highly-profitable agricultural sector.

The Government now says it will cut emissions by between 10 and 20 per cent of 1990 levels.

But Barry Coates from Oxfam believes it is a cop-out.

"The losers here are the people from the developing world who stand to suffer from climate change, including our Pacific neighbours," he said.

New Zealand will set a final target after it takes part in negotiations at the climate change conference in Copenhagen later this year.

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