Caleb
Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist
Lydia
Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/bulletin
editor
Palau’s leader says the world needs to be
working toward reducing emissions and “not dropping
targets”, in response to New Zealand slashing its methane
reduction goals.
Last month, the New Zealand government
announced it would cut biogenic methane reduction
targets to 14-24 percent below 2017 levels by 2050. The
previous target was a reduction of 24-47
percent.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr, who is
in Brazil for the annual United Nations climate change
conference, COP30, said more work needed to go into finding
solutions.
“[It’s] unfortunate because we all need to
be working toward reduction, not dropping targets,” Whipps
said.
“Countries struggle because it’s about making
sure that their people have their jobs and maintain their
industry. I can see the reason why maybe those targets were
dropped, but that means we just need to work
harder.”
Whipps said it probably meant the government
needed to “step up” and help farmers reduce
emissions.
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Tuvalu’s climate minister also told
RNZ Pacific he was disheartened by the new goal.
New
Zealand Climate Minister Simon Watts previously told RNZ
Pacific in a statement that methane reduction was limited by
technology and the only alternative would have been to cut
agriculture production.
“New Zealand has some of the
most emissions-efficient farmers in the world, and we export
to meet global demand,” Watts said.
“If we cut
production to meet targets, we risk shifting production to
countries who are not as emissions-efficient, which would
add to global warming and have a greater impact on the
Pacific.”
NZ ‘don’t care about the Pacific’ –
campaigner
Pacific Islands Climate Action Network
campaigner Sindra Sharma said she wanted to know what
scientists Watts spoke with.
“I’d like to see what the
data is behind New Zealand having the most
emissions-efficient farmers. It blows my mind that that is
something he would say.”
Sharma said it’s especially
disappointing given New Zealand is a member of the Pacific
Islands Forum.
“I think the signal that sends is
extremely harmful. It shows we don’t care about the
Pacific.”
Speaking to Morning Report on
Thursday, Watts said the country had not weakened its
ambitions on climate change.
“We’ve actually delivered
upon what has been asked of us. We’ve submitted our NDC
(Nationally Determined Contributions) plan for 2035 on
time,” he said.
“We’ve done what we believe is
possible in the context of our unique
circumstances.
“We’ve taken a position around ensuring
that we are ambitious with balancing that with economic
challenges.”
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