Greenpeace’s Politics of Climate Change
Greenpeace has just released political survey: Politics of Climate Change; Where New Zealand’s Political Parties Stand on the Biggest Challenge We Face.
The Greens do well in the survey getting climate friendly rankings in all of Greennpeace’s twenty criteria. But it looks like Green MPs may be struggling to find a similarly responsible party to work with after the election. Among the other parties only the Progressives managed climate-friendly ticks in more than 60% of the categories Greenpeace surveyed on.
Labour was hurt by advocating a 2-3 degrees global warming target rather than the internationally acceptable ‘no more than 2 degrees’. As Greenpeace says:
A rise in global temperature of 2° Celsius above pre-industrial levels is internationally regarded as the point beyond which the impacts of climate change may be irreversible. There is serious concern that above two degrees warming, positive feedback loops, such as the melting of the Greenland ice cap and the collapse of the Amazon rainforest, will lead to catastrophic climate change.
National failed to fare well by not answering the questions, instead sending in a copy of an old speech. I guess it’s research/advisory unit must have been busy. ACT, the Māori Party and New Zealand First failed to turn up for the exam, allowing United Future to finish mid-table.
March 31st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Not surprised National just sent in an old speech. I looked on their website to see if I could find any environmental policy, all the “policy” links were to old speeches.
Their policy must be that the environment is something they talk about from time to time.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I can’t seem to post regarding the free trade deal? I was going to say how much will this arrogant bunch of self serving hypocrites we call our government take into account? They are only giving 20 days to reduce even the amount of feedback they recieve - bastards!
March 31st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I guess their research unit must be looking for another way to say “no, we haven’t released our policy on that yet”, so that labour can’t add “broken record” to its campaign against “slippery” John Key.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Assuming National will get more votes than Labour this election makes it more imperative than ever for the Green party to engage with them in government. We need a government with a sustainability focus, whoever they may be.
You see I’m not a supporter of the Green Party, I am a supporter of green policy and, even better, green action.
If any party can come up with sound green policy I say good for them.
So Greens keep rolling out green policy, leave the red, blue, brown etc policies to the rest, and get those green policies on the cabinet table of the next government.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
nick smth is anti coal, gerry brownless is pro coal (its sexy to him and please don’t ask in what way..), john key is an ex climate skeptic..
so hows that for inconsistant. no wonder they dont have policy. the bluegreens is more of a scam than solid energy ‘not using spies’ and their $50 000 snaill PR film.
national is as environmental as opencast mining and farming in by clearfelling in the amazon and then doing agri farming for soy.
national is mud grey not blue green.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Samiam - it’s a shame you can’t support the Greens seeing as you support green policy. Why not?
No other political party has a policy anywhere near green, because they are still on the unlimited growth train.
The only way to ensure a strong green voice, and a sustainability focus, is to Party Vote Green - so get off the fence already!
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Have no idea what the harm is in being “an ex climate skeptic”, although in a politician it’s certainly worthy of suspicion..