John MacDonald: We'd be mad to pull out of the Paris agreement

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

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6d ago 4:35

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We would be mad to pull out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

ACT leader David Seymour thinks differently though, saying its emissions targets are "disconnected from science and blind to New Zealand's realities".

He says net zero targets have been set with no regard for the real cost to firms, farms, and families, and he wants out.

Out of 197 countries, 193 are signed up to the accord. David Seymour wants us to join what would be a very exclusive club of five.

I can kind-of understand the thinking of the people who would like us to end our involvement, because New Zealand is a tiny cog in the climate change machine and really, what difference can we actually make?

The other reason people are anti-the Paris agreement is their impression that the big countries —the big polluters— aren’t really doing their bit. So if they’re not, why should we?

I get that. The thing is though, when it comes to climate change you have to take a long-term view, and you have to think about the bigger picture. And it’s not just about the climate itself.

The main reason I want us to stay involved is the same reason David Seymour wants us out: the economy.

He says the targets we’ve signed up to are forcing farmers off the land (which you have to question), forcing people out of the regions, and making food and electricity more expensive.

But whether we like it or not, our free trade agreement with the European Union has specific references to climate change and the Paris agreement. If we did pull out, there could be serious trade and economic consequences for us.

So we have to stick with it. Whether we like it or not.

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John MacDonald: We'd be mad to pull out of the Paris agreement

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

published 6d ago