Greenpeace are calling on the next government to take the necessary action of ending oil exploration in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Climate change is an existential threat, posing serious danger to our health, homes, communities, food security, culture, and our livelihoods, let alone the wildlife and natural environments with which we share this planet.

But a few terms ago, New Zealand was ravaged by Cyclone Ella, causing significant harm and damage to people's homes, infrastructure, health, and livelihood. Climate science clearly shows that with increasing emissions, especially those from oil, gas, coal, and agriculture, weather events like these will become more intense, more frequent, and more harmful.

Any government that wishes to tackle climate change in any meaningful way mustn't be too scared of or brainwashed by the oil & gas lobby to finally put a managed end to oil & gas exploration. If the next government wants to credibly claim to be acting on climate change, they have to start investing in a just transition now, and begin setting out that clear roadmap away from fossil fuel dependency, rather than kicking the can down the road.

This means offering no new oil & gas exploration permits, and not extending any of the current permits, combined with an expanded Regional Investment Corporation with the task of investing in sustainable jobs to provide a just transition in fossil-fuel dependant regions. The industry is a sunset industry no matter what: governments need to decide if they want to provide clarity and cut emissions at the same time with a thought-out transition, or continue to contribute to global carbon dioxide emissions and leave workers in a precarious economic position.

There is no credible justification for continuing oil & gas exploration, especially when the latest IPCC report shows we have less than 12 years to reverse our global emissions profile. New Zealand's centre and right-wing political parties need to stop prioritising the interests of the oil & gas lobby over the interests of kiwi workers and the climate.

Research and modelling commissioned by Greenpeace showed that the clean energy industry could create 25,000 new jobs in Aotearoa. There are substantial opportunities for New Zealand in this transition away from fossil fuel dependency, and significant benefits for our climate. It's time all political parties looked at the facts, accepted the evidence, and started to act. But that will take political leadership.