UN Climate Change Negotiations Cancun, Mexico – Young New Zealanders from the NZ Youth Delegation (NZYD) today joined other youth delegations, the Ecosystems Climate Alliance and the Indigenous Environmental Network to stage a powerful protest inside the conference against carbon accounting rules relating to forestry. The protest entailed inviting negotiators to hide their carbon emissions in the loopholes within this text by throwing balloons representing CO2 emissions through holes cut in a banner depicting forests.
The demonstration was held following a closed door meeting this morning where negotiators continued to discuss the rules, which could be finalized over the next few days. The text currently proposed is supported by the NZ government delegation and would enable countries such as New Zealand to evade accounting for up to one billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the destruction of native forests and peatlands.
Jessie Dennis of NZYD, says ‘Last year in Copenhagen, NZ announced a conditional target of a 10–20 % reduction in emissions by 2020. By not having to account for their forestry emissions, the amount of emissions needed to be reduced is effectively decreased, enabling NZ to cheat their way out of their responsibilities. Not only do these loopholes allow them to not account for emissions but it also enables them to collect credits which do not actually represent emissions reductions.’
Suzanna Remmerswaal of NZYD adds, ‘The NZ Youth Delegation is disappointed in our government’s conduct at these negotiations. The consequences of the decisions being made here in Cancun will be forced on young people and future generations and we demand that the behaviour of the negotiators here reflects the seriousness of these consequences.’
NZYD is a group of 12 young people aged 16 to 26 from around New Zealand who are attending the UN Climate Change Negotiations to represent NZ youth.
3 Responses to PRESS RELEASE: Young New Zealanders Stage Demonstration inside UN Climate Negotiations
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Awesome that you have been brave and have stood tall to be counted for a cause worth fighting for. We are proud of your response and your action. Go well.
New Zealand’s plantation forests are unevenly aged due to the planting boom of the 1990s. This will likely cause large swings in our carbon obligations depending on whether our forests are in the growing or harvesting phase.
The NZ negotiating team is merely trying to even out those flucuations in the accounting process. You seem to be sabotaging their efforts.
This youth delegation is as articulate and capable as any delegation at the talks. I see great prospects of mounting a civil society grassroots campaign to address these issues from the ground up. Seeing the intelligence, drive and commitment of this group gives me hope that we can take this to the next level. I look forward to the next steps. We are behind you NZYD!