Graham Kennedy: General Debate 
Graham Kennedy: General Debate 
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Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) 
: 
 I rise to address what may be—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I ask members to pay some courtesy to a new member. Thank you. 
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM 
: I rise to address what may be the most urgent issue to come before the House in its entire history. The spectre of climate change grows more severe with every passing year. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report projected a global temperature increase of some 3 degrees over this century with a consequent sea level rise of perhaps half a metre. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change acknowledged that even the most serious scenarios involving ice melt and the thawing of the northern tundra were not included because the relevant studies had not been peer reviewed. Since then the scientific community has confirmed that this scenario is already occurring. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change co-chair has just stated that we are looking now at a future climate beyond anything seriously considered before. The possible sea level rise may be anything from 2 to 17 metres over the next 50 years. 
The effects of severe climate disturbance involving frequent and devastating storms flooding and drought combined with crop failure will put unprecedented strain on human civilisation. The probability of this occurring cannot be assessed with accuracy but the precautionary principle accepted by the international community in 1992 makes it imperative that humanity acts now given what is at stake. That year we undertook to achieve climate stabilisation in time for ecosystems to adapt naturally to ensure that food production is not threatened. That vital global objective is not being achieved. The only mechanism to that end—the Kyoto Protocol—took 16 years to become operative. They were critical years while the world steadily increased emissions. The Kyoto Protocol itself is palpably inadequate. Even if fully implemented it would do little to curb the full effect of climate change shaving perhaps 0.2 degrees off the projected 3-degree increase. Let us be realistic; the full achievement of Kyoto is not about to occur. Only a Green New Deal genuinely applied around the world and here at home can turn round this situation. 
Meanwhile as we fail our modest preliminary goal we bicker within the international community over burden sharing for the next goal. The North refuses to accept any further cuts until the South accepts binding obligations yet the North emits four times more per capita emissions than the South. The principle of humanity requires us in the North to reduce our per capita emissions while those in the South maintain theirs. A framework for contraction and convergence is the only equitable way for the global community of peoples to proceed and the only legitimate way of resolving the global crisis. It is not clear that the international community of States is up to the task. 
We have this year—2009—to reach a binding global agreement. This is our moment of truth. Failure to reach agreement on at least 30 percent cuts by 2020 will spell catastrophe for humanity. If we engage in a lingering denial or inconclusive argumentation we fail our citizens morally intellectually and politically. At Poznan the Minister said climate change was one of the greatest challenges of our age and that New Zealand was determined to play a positive role. At home another Minister remains sceptical of alarmist claims over climate change. At Poznan the Minister said his Government fully understands and accepts its longstanding international obligations under Kyoto. At home his ministerial colleague continues to hope the emissions trading scheme will be rescinded. With cognitive dissonance of such breathtaking proportion who needs enemies in our collective fight against climate change?