‘Creative accounting’ in NZ climate targets — watchdog

New Zealand is far from doing its “fair share” of climate action, with its climate plans rated as “inadequate” by an independent international analysis: the Climate Action Tracker.

“New Zealand’s climate target shows it’s far from doing its ‘fair share,’ and is anything but ambitious,” said Bill Hare, CEO and Senior Scientist at Climate Analytics, one of the four independent European research organisations involved in the tracker project.

Climate Tracker“While most other governments intend cutting emissions, New Zealand appears to be increasing emissions, and hiding this through creative accounting. It may not have to take any action at all to meet either its 2020 or 2030 targets. ”

The report has been covered in the news media this morning. Examples include:

Radio New Zealand: NZ’s climate change target condemned
3 News: Greens: NZ not doing our ‘fair share’ with emissions target
NZ City News: Climate change analysis slams NZ plans
Yahoo NZ News: NZ climate target inadequate
New Zealand Herald: Climate change reduction target ‘inadequate’
Business Desk: New NZ climate change target ‘inadequate’, watchdog says