With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

In July, New Zealand will become chair of the UN Security Council. We’re calling on Prime Minister John Key & Minister Murray McCully to put climate change on the agenda: Sign the petition and let’s #talkclimate!

In October 2014, New Zealand was elected to a two-year term on the Security Council, winning the support of 145 of 193 member states of the UN. Our win was a testament to the esteem with which New Zealand is held internationally. New Zealand campaigned on a promise to bring a “strong, independent voice” to the Council, and now is our chance to step up to that challenge. 

“Our win proves small countries have a role to play at the UN and we are determined to represent the perspective of small states at the Security Council.”

 Prime Minister John Key, discussing New Zealand’s election to the Council with support from 145 countries of the world.

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Click here to see the #TalkClimate selfies pouring in!
The Presidency of the Security Council rotates each month, through the 15 members of the Council. The President sets the agenda for the month, and chairs all Council meetings. In July, New Zealand will take its turn at the top of the table. 

“Make no mistake: climate change not only exacerbates threats to peace and security, it is a threat to international peace and security.”

 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, addressing the Security Council on climate issues in July 2011.

As the recent tragic events of Cyclone Pam have demonstrated, storms and flooding can be every bit as destructive as bombs and mortars – and for our Pacific neighbors in places like Kiribati, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands, climate change is quite literally a matter of national survival.

“Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels, and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty, and conflict.”

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel

Considering a stable climate is a fundamental requirement for a peaceful 21st Century, climate issues have received worryingly little attention from the world’s foremost international peace and security institution. Climate change will only be discussed if a country decides to put it forward during their Presidency. Typically, however, this doesn’t happen – not least, because the world’s most vulnerable countries are never likely to be elected to the Council. New Zealand was put at the table to speak up for the small and vulnerable – so let’s do that.

Join us and push for New Zealand to #talkclimate at the UN Security Council this July – sign the petition to Prime Minister John Key and Minister Murray McCully!