EECA (the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) has welcomed the Climate Change Committee’s first draft package of advice.
The package outlines Aotearoa’s first three emissions budgets covering the period until 2035, and advice on how to achieve those budgets, in order to fulfil New Zealand’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, and meaningfully tackle climate change.
Elena Trout, EECA Board Chair, said “We expected the Climate Change Commission’s first package would reinforce the enormity of the challenge, and indeed it has. Their proposed budget of a 36% cut to overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, will require significant changes from all of us – government, the private sector, communities and individuals.”
Ms Trout noted that the public is receptive to good climate action. “EECA’s own research shows 83% of New Zealanders would support government action on emissions reduction, while 76% understand that they will need to make changes in their own lives, which they see as positive.
“The New Zealand public now has a unique opportunity to be a part of this, by reviewing the draft budgets and making their own submissions or comments via the Climate Change Commission’s website,” Ms Trout said.
“Time is now of the essence and the sooner we accelerate the change required the less significant the impacts of Climate Change will be.”