Submitted by Lindsay Wood
Some 100 people packed Rutherford Hotel's Waimea Room at short notice for a key meeting on climate change.
Nelson architect Lindsay Wood said those attending the meeting left the Ministry for the Environment in no doubt that slashing greenhouse gas emissions was an absolute priority.
In leading the MFE team of five, Guy Beatson, Deputy Secretary Natural Resources, apologised for the short notice, but emphasised the importance placed on the consultation process.
He noted the seriousness of the climate situation, and directed the discussion to the ministry's consultation document, and to setting "intended targets" for New Zealand to take to an international meeting in Paris later this year.
A short contextual video and explanation outlined the issues, including a notional range of emissions reductions by 2030 of from 5 per cent to 40 per cent below 1990 levels.
"This was the cue for the public, whose robust views ranged widely around a single focal point: addressing climate change is of utmost priority, and targets must maximise emission reductions.
"Recurring themes included basing strategies on good science; the moral imperative to curtail fossil fuel use; and shortcomings in the consultation documents and modelling. Speakers also challenged dependence on a growth economy, and asked why climate-change business opportunities were being neglected in New Zealand," Wood said.
The Ministry team endorsed the "good science" approach, and highlighted the complexity of some issues, such as weighing reduced emission in New Zealand against paying similar sums to other countries to reduce theirs even more.
"Vigorous discussion continued to the point that the proposed round-table workshops did not occur."
Earlier in the day a hui was held on the same topic but was very lightly attended, reportedly because invitations to local Iwi were overlooked.
Some 100 people packed Rutherford Hotel's Waimea Room at short notice for a key meeting on climate change.
Nelson architect Lindsay Wood said those attending the meeting left the Ministry for the Environment in no doubt that slashing greenhouse gas emissions was an absolute priority.
In leading the MFE team of five, Guy Beatson, Deputy Secretary Natural Resources, apologised for the short notice, but emphasised the importance placed on the consultation process.
He noted the seriousness of the climate situation, and directed the discussion to the ministry's consultation document, and to setting "intended targets" for New Zealand to take to an international meeting in Paris later this year.
A short contextual video and explanation outlined the issues, including a notional range of emissions reductions by 2030 of from 5 per cent to 40 per cent below 1990 levels.
"This was the cue for the public, whose robust views ranged widely around a single focal point: addressing climate change is of utmost priority, and targets must maximise emission reductions.
"Recurring themes included basing strategies on good science; the moral imperative to curtail fossil fuel use; and shortcomings in the consultation documents and modelling. Speakers also challenged dependence on a growth economy, and asked why climate-change business opportunities were being neglected in New Zealand," Wood said.
The Ministry team endorsed the "good science" approach, and highlighted the complexity of some issues, such as weighing reduced emission in New Zealand against paying similar sums to other countries to reduce theirs even more.
"Vigorous discussion continued to the point that the proposed round-table workshops did not occur."
Earlier in the day a hui was held on the same topic but was very lightly attended, reportedly because invitations to local Iwi were overlooked.
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