This week the Government is hosting consultations on how ambitious New Zealand’s emission reduction targets should be in preparation of the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Paris later this year. This is an important moment to have your voice heard, and to let them know that we are ready for ambitious targets and a robust plan for how to get there. 

Below are some points that might be helpful in preparing a submission. You can read more about the consultation and review the discussion document. Simply put your points into a personalised message, save it as a PDF or Word document, and email it to: climate.contribution@mfe.govt.nz. You have until 5pm, June 3rd to get your submission submitted.

Submission to Tim Groser, Minister for Climate Change Issues

Ask that the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC):

(i) commits to a global and NZ zero carbon target by 2050 or sooner with annual steps to get there as quickly as possible

(ii) places an immediate moratorium on fossil fuel exploration, and pledges to phase out existing extraction in the next decade. All subsidies, tax-breaks and funding to fossil fuels are also phased out within the decade.

(iii) includes credible, transparent, cross-party plans, with a legislated independent Climate Commission to ensure NZ meets its targets and stays within the global carbon budget.

(iv) Abides by the articles laid out in Te Tiriti o Waitangi 

(v) includes health and fairnessm and the true cost of inaction on climate change in the assessment of costs and benefits

(vi) follows transparent decision-making process after the consultation period ends

Great work! Let’s make ourselves heard!

Thanks to Ora Taiao for their submission template which we drew on for this document.