School Strike for Climate

We agree with all five of the School Strike for Climate's demands:

1. Parliament acknowledges the magnitude of the climate crisis and the damage it is causing our Pacific Island neighbours by declaring a Climate Emergency. This move will set the narrative for the urgent pace at which we need to act on climate change and must uphold our democratic values and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
   
   We agree. In 2019 we called a motion in the house to declare an emergency, only to be blocked by the Opposition, and continue to work in Government to deliver a wide ranging action plan that recognises the scale of the challenge.
   
   

2. Parliament passes an ambitious Zero Carbon Act into law with cross-party support that puts in place a legally enforceable plan to get to net zero carbon by 2040.
   
   We agree. We have worked tirelessly to get a Zero Carbon Act in place with cross-party support and would be open to ways to bring net zero carbon into place by 2040 if the political consensus allowed.
   
   

3. The Government ceases all exploration and extraction of fossil fuels in NZ. This includes not granting any extensions of existing permits. This must be paired with Government investment in renewable energy production and sustainable transport systems to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
   
   We agree. We don’t want to see any new permits granted and we’d like current permits to be wound down in an orderly fashion.  We have championed an end to exploration and have lobbied to have existing permit extensions closed off.
   
   

4. The Government invests in building a renewable and regenerative economy now. This means immediate investment in retraining and the provision of alternative jobs in clean, sustainable industries that don’t harm the ecosystems on which we depend for survival. This must be done through meaningful partnerships with communities, Tangata Whenua and youth to ensure a just transition and that no one is left behind.
   

   We agree. We’re leading the government’s work on reducing waste in order to lead to a circular economy, with communities and local government as partners, and it was the Green Party that set the government’s goal of 100% renewable electricity. We’re committed to supporting new clean industries like green hydrogen and we were the first to get Cabinet to agree to be guided by just transition principles.
   
   

5. The Government honours its responsibility to our Pacific Island neighbours by ensuring its domestic climate policies align with the Paris Agreement 1.5 goal; releasing a public adaptation plan for Climate Change survivors to migrate to New Zealand with dignity; and actively supporting the regional and international diplomatic efforts of Pacific Islands Small Island Developing States to increase climate ambition and mitigate the climate crisis before it’s too late.
   

   We agree. Our climate action plan and legislation is geared around staying within 1.5 degrees and we have supported Pacific Islands Small Island Developing States delegations at COP. We support appropriate visa pathways for migration with dignity but we also hear the voices of our Pacific neighbours calling for the world to act faster to stop climate change, so they can stay in their homelands – that has to be the priority. We’re also proud of the 50% increase in climate aid to the Pacific under this Government.
   
   

What changes have we made in Government so far?

The Green Party is leading action to ensure our emissions are reduced, whilst supporting communities to make the necessary changes and ensuring people aren’t left behind.

Our Climate Action Plan

Change is already underway, and includes:

1. Driving down emissions by fixing the Emissions Trading Scheme.
2. Ensuring major polluters pay by phasing out their free allocation of carbon credits.
3. An independent Climate Commission to advise the government.
4. Government funding for innovation, research and redevelopment into low emissions technologies.
5. A Green Investment Fund that encourages private investment into low carbon technologies.
6. Making large companies report on the financial risks they face relating to climate change.
7. Setting a fair price for agricultural emissions.
8. Making clean and electric cars more affordable with a clean car discount and clean car standard.
9. Government funding for electric vehicle chargers.
10. Investing in clean transport infrastructure like trains, buses, and bike lanes.
11. Making it easier to build new clean electricity generation like windfarms and solar.
12. Working with major industrial coal users to help them transition to cleaner alternatives, including biomass.
13. Phasing out the government’s own coal use, such as to heat schools and hospitals.
14. Working with local councils to reduce waste going to landfill.
15. Establishing “one stop shops” for farmers to get rid of agricultural waste like chemicals and silage wrap.
16. Updating the Building Code to encourage environmentally friendly building materials and techniques.
17. Setting stronger energy efficiency standards for new buildings.
18. Encouraging more medium density, affordable housing instead of urban sprawl.

These are all part of our cross-Government action plan to tackle the climate challenge.

We will continue to advocate for further and faster action.