Motion to Declare a Climate Emergency

Speaker, I move that this House:

• declare a climate emergency, following the finding of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that, to avoid a more than 1.5°C rise in global warming, global emissions would need to fall by around 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net zero by around 2050

• acknowledge the undeniable scientific fact that human activities have a direct and significant role in changes in the natural environment; including, but not limited to, climate change, biodiversity and forestry cover

• recognise the advocacy of New Zealanders in calling for action to protect the environment and reduce the impact of human activity on the climate

• join the over 1,800 jurisdictions in 32 countries to declare a climate emergency and commit to reducing emissions to avoid a more than 1.5°C rise in global warming

• Recognise the devastating impact that volatile and extreme weather will have on New Zealand and the wellbeing of New Zealanders, on our primary industries, water availability, and public health, through flooding, sea-level rise, and wildfire damage

• acknowledge the core tenets of New Zealand's response by establishing budgets that set us on a path to net zero by 2050, setting a price on emissions through the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, transitioning to a low-carbon economy and planning for climate adaption

• implement the policies required to meet the targets in the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019, and to increase support for striving towards 100 percent renewable electricity generation, low carbon energy, and transport systems;

• create green jobs in the low-carbon economy while managing risks for workers and communities currently reliant on carbon-intensive sectors

• recognise the alarming trend in species decline and global biodiversity crisis, including the decline in Aotearoa's indigenous biodiversity, and acknowledge New Zealand's strategic framework for the protection and restoration of biodiversity Te Mana o te Taiao;

• note that the Government will take further steps towards reducing and eliminating waste

• show leadership and demonstrate what is possible to other sectors of the New Zealand economy by reducing the Government's own emissions and becoming a carbon-neutral Government by 2025.

M.1015 - Motion to Declare a Climate Emergency is authored by u/TheTrashman_10(Alliance) and Rt. Hon. Jacinda Ardern (IRL Figure) and is sponsored by u/TheTrashman_10 (Alliance)

Debate will end 11:59pm 21/07/2021