Transcript
JAMES SHAW: Well, the most significant change that has been heralded by the new government is of course that we intend to pass what we refer to as the Zero Carbon Act which will set a new target for New Zealand to be carbon neutral by the year 2050. So in relation to the Pacific's goal of a one-and-a-half degree limit to temperature rises, we believe by New Zealand becoming carbon neutral by 2050 is a goal that is consistent with the Pacific's ambitions.
WALTER ZWEIFEL: So there would be no need to specifically line up with Pacific Island countries?
JS: Oh no, we have every intention to do a great deal more to support our Pacific Island neighbours and partners. I guess the big question is 'Will our 2030 target change?" because the 2030 target we have always described as inadequate when we were in opposition and of course when you have a new target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, then the existing 2030 target starts to look inconsistent with that. So we are looking at reviewing that next year.
WZ: Just in recent days we've had this court ruling about climate change refugees not being recognised under law. Is there any thought being given in the new government at looking at the issue again?
JS: Yes we are looking at the issue again. We refer to them as persons displaced due to climate change. Green Party policy going into the election was to take a look at the idea that there might be a new, an experimental humanitarian visa category for people from the Pacific who are displaced by rising seas stemming from climate change, and it is a piece of work that we intend to do in partnership with the Pacific Islands over the course of the coming months and years. It is a sensitive issue because plan A for the Pacific has to be to try to prevent catastrophic climate change and therefore have there be no need for people to be displaced. That's plan A. So we really want to work hand in glove with the Pacific Islands because we don't kind of want to send a message that we are giving up on plan A which is to make sure that they keep their territorial integrity and people can stay in their homes.
WZ: Pacific leaders have also come out quite strongly on Australia's policy on future coal mining. Your predecessor was not inclined to comment on that. Have you got anything to say about Australia's coal mining ambitions?
JS: Look, it's pretty obvious from the science world-wide that we cannot burn the fossil fuel reserves that we already know about, about 80 percent of the existing known fossil fuel reserves cannot be burnt if we'll have any hope of remaining within the two-degree temperature warming envelope.
