Graham Kennedy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Graham Kennedy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:678;Page:985] 
9. 
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Climate Change Issues 
: Did New Zealand meet the 28 February deadline for its submission to the United Nations on increasing the level of ambition in global greenhouse gas mitigation as agreed by parties in the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action; if not why not? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 The agreement in Durban was for an invitation for the 195 member countries to submit views on options for increasing ambition globally for reducing emissions and did not amount to a deadline. I note that only three submissions were received by 28 February. New Zealand will be contributing its views this month and that will be in good time for the next round of international negotiations to take place in Bonn in May. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Given that it was according to the Minister an agreement for an invitation but that paragraph 8 said “submit by 28 February” is he concerned that in ignoring the 28 February request and invitation this Government conveys the message that New Zealand does not care about the imminence and magnitude of climate change? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Quite clearly the fact that only three submissions were received by 28 February from the 195 countries that were represented in Durban hardly suggests that those countries thought it was the rigid deadline in the way in which the member presents it. I can absolutely assure the member that this Government takes those international negotiations very seriously. I have to say that this House should be very proud of the contribution of the Minister responsible for those international negotiations. Tim Groser is playing a very pivotal role and this country is punching well above its weight in ensuring progress is made. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Setting aside what our weight is has the Cabinet been informed of the recent United Nations Environment Programme report stating that to have a likely chance of staying within the 2 degrees Celsius threshold global emissions in 2020 will need to be 12 gigatonnes below the projected level of 56? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Certainly I and my colleague the Minister responsible for International Climate Change Negotiations have received many of those reports. Cabinet is currently giving consideration both to the issues that flow from Bonn as well as to the amendments that will need to be made to the emissions trading scheme. I would also point out that New Zealand is going to comfortably meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations around emissions and that is something that was not the case prior to our putting the emissions trading scheme in place. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Interpreting the answer to be no I seek leave to table the United Nations Environment Programme report  
The Emissions Gap Report 
 2011. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Given that the United Nations Secretary-General has told the Security Council that climate change “not only exacerbates threats to international peace and security; it is a threat to international peace and security” and “Minimalist steps will not do”; does he agree that bigger reductions by New Zealand than currently announced are essential? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Certainly we have made a commitment in the negotiations to a target of a reduction of between 10 percent and 20 percent on our 1990 emissions subject to a number of conditions on some of which progress was made in the latest negotiations in Durban. What this Government will not do is to make a big bold promise about emissions reductions like the previous Government and let emissions continue to grow up uncontrolled. That does nothing for the credibility of dealing with this very serious issue. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: In light of the heightened concern over the mitigation gap will the Government now accept the Secretary-General’s earlier call for a 30 to 40 percent cut for 2020 in recognition that that is not too big and bold? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I have seen no credible plan that would enable New Zealand by 2020 to reduce its emissions to 30 to 40 percent below 1990 levels—and remember levels since 1990 grew very substantially in the later years—without completely decimating the New Zealand economy and the New Zealand Government here is not going to do that. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: I seek leave to table the Green Party’s document dated August 2009  
Getting There 
 which conveyed a credible— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! This document is already available to all members. We will not waste time doing that. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Recognising the comment by the Alliance of Small Island States which did manage to get its submission to the United Nations that “Enhancing mitigation ambition is essential in order to minimize adverse and potentially catastrophic effects for all countries and is particularly critical to preserving the viability and survival of small island developing states …” does the Government believe that its current pledge will avert such a catastrophe and ensure their survival? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: There is a critical issue for those small island States and New Zealand recognises that and it was a subject of significant discussion at the Pacific Islands Forum we chaired in Auckland last year. But I remind the member that New Zealand’s portion of greenhouse gas emissions globally is 0.2 percent and if anybody in this House thinks that New Zealand by itself can solve this problem they are in my view very misled. What is more I would say that New Zealand is making more progress than most in changing our emissions profile. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: I seek leave to table the submission by the Republic of Nauru on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States pointing out the degree of its concern on this matter. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.