SignOn reports on last night's climate change target consultation meeting in Christchurch:
Christchurch had its consultation this evening and nearly 200 Cantabrians came out to have their say to Climate Change Minister Nick Smith and NZ Climate Ambassador Adrian Macey. There were 40 by 2020 stickers and signs galore and nearly every comment made from the floor was supporting a 40% target and from very interesting angles too. A Neptune Power rep talked about the lack of support for ocean based energy so far and the need to invest in this area; Gareth Renowden, of Hot Topic fame discussed the need for an updating of the 450 ppm two/degrees target and suggested at least 80 per cent by 2050; and Don Murray, from a group I haven’t heard of before, Grandparents for Action on Greenhouse Gases, suggested NZ should adopt a unilateral 20 per cent target, and a 40 per cent target if developing nations come on board in someway.(I'm sure Hot Topic will have their own report up soon)
So, the turnouts are still high and there is still overwhelming support for action. But after doing Dunedin tonight, the meetings go off into the sticks - Queenstown on Friday, Hamilton on Monday, then New Plymouth, Napier, and Nelson. So, if you live in any of those places - and especially the last one - it is important to go along and show your support for a strong 2020 target. Otherwise, the final media on the consultation will be dominated by the views of polluting farmers - which is exactly what National is hoping for.
