Court Simon; Dean JacquiSIMON COURT (ACT): I'm proud to stand here today on behalf of the ACT Party to offer a different perspective a pragmatic and constructive approach to mitigate climate risks because declaring a climate emergency is simply a triumph of politics over practical solutions—slogans over substance.As an environmental engineer I understand natural processes and I also know that human activity has a significant impact on climate and the environment. So the question is: what are we going to do about it? Declare a climate emergency. And now? Well local government are already putting in place plans to mitigate climate change risks to respond to sea-level rise. Local governments are already putting plans in place with infrastructure rezoning land and to reduce building risks. The climate change Minister has the emissions trading scheme (ETS) and the Climate Change Commission. That Minister has the power to set the price of carbon through the ETS. He could set it at $50 a tonne or $100 a tonne—whatever price he chooses. That Minister has the greatest influence on the behaviour of business and consumers than any other Minister in Government. So ACT says that to declare a climate emergency is nothing but a stunt. It's not a solution because the people with the real solutions to mitigating the risks from climate change and adapting are business people are scientists are engineers. Those people have the solutions. They should be incentivised to deliver their solutions not punished for being in business punished for providing people with jobs and incomes. If the Government wanted to do something tangible it wouldn't just tell civil servants to carbon zero; it would take ACT's recommendation to amend Parliament's sitting hours. Stop flying MPs all over the country wherever they like whenever they like because MPs are the only people in the world with an unlimited travel budget to fly anywhere they like whenever they want on the taxpayer. No business would accept its staff jumping on a plane on a whim—no business in New Zealand would. ACT believes that politicians should lead by example when it comes to climate change. So ACT proposes to change the parliamentary calendar. Currently MPs sit three days a week for 30 weeks a year. We could sit for four days a week—imagine that—for 23 weeks a year. That would reduce the number of flights taken by MPs and carbon emissions by around 25 percent and it would not only reduce emissions; it would save taxpayer money. ACT believes that New Zealand must play its part on climate change and that the response must be simple to administer politically durable and effective. New Zealand will only prosper if we match our goals with actions and actions which actually benefit the environment and climate. But if the Government forces through much deeper emissions cuts than our trading partners and sets more aggressive targets than other countries we will simply impoverish ourselves. We will push vital economic activity to other countries. That is why ACT proposes New Zealand ties our carbon price to that of our top five trading partners. We can remain competitive as a trading nation. ACT believes New Zealand should do its part through innovation led by business engineers and scientists not through slogans and PR stunts. Thank you Madam Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order! Order! Before I take the next call can I just advise members of the gallery that they may not take part in this debate and to hear the rest of the debate in silence.