‘A liveable future is at stake’: Critics call out David Seymour’s climate stance

Concerns are growing across the Pacific over New Zealand’s potential exit from the Paris Climate Agreement.

The agreement, signed by almost 200 nations to tackle emissions, has come under scrutiny following Act Party Leader David Seymour’s proposal to withdraw after 2026.

Speaking to Levi Matautia-Morgan on Pacific Mornings, Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson criticised the idea of abandoning climate commitments.

“Our position is if you've got a good policy that is in the interest of protecting nature, protecting future generations, then we will happily work with you on that,” Larsson said.

“But if you have negative policies that are going to take us backwards, then we will criticise you.”

She also pointed out that many Pacific nations have criticised New Zealand for reversing plans, such as the oil and gas ban, which Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr heavily condemned.

Vanuatu’s incumbent climate change minister, Ralph Regenvanu, has also called on New Zealand to uphold its obligations to the Paris Agreement.

Larsson warned that Pacific Island nations, already facing sea-level rise and extreme weather, would suffer from any retreat from international climate agreements.

“We've already seen the leaders of many Pacific nations calling out New Zealand for things like going back on the oil and gas ban.

“It's a real shocking thing for David Seymour to say something like this, given that Aotearoa is in the Pacific and we have a huge Pacific population, especially in Auckland, where he's based.

“If David Seymour has his way, which I hope he doesn't, that'll really strain relationships with the Pacific.”

Amanda Larsson of Greenpeace. Photo /RNZ/Jonathan Mitche

Better target emissions

Kay Harrison, a former Climate Change Ambassador, echoed concerns to RNZ about New Zealand’s climate commitments.

She said that while the country has a target, it aims for only a 51 per cent reduction in emissions, while the global average needs a 60 per cent reduction.

“[Which] means we're expecting other countries to take targets that make up for our shortfall. Theirs will need to be much higher than ours and may be higher than minus 60,” Harrison said.

“It's like we are paying the ante - the bare minimum - to stay in the most dangerous game of our lives. But we're not serious about winning.”

But, she admitted that the targets could increase and consider setting a target a positive step.

Price to pay

Ultimately, Larsson believes Seymour is trying to stir controversy as he and his party are known for doing “no matter the price”.

“The price is pretty severe - It's a livable future for our kids and grandkids,” she said.

“I think that politicians like Donald Trump and David Seymour underestimate how hard people fight to protect their kids from an unlivable future.

“So statements like this from people who are supposed to be our leaders only embolden us into more action.

“My advice to the Government is don't underestimate people's will to protect their kids' and grandkids' future because if this Government is going to capitulate on that fight, then I think people will stand up for themselves.”