May 22, 2018
CPTPPA block to climate change action
The New Zealand Climate and Health Council has warned MPs ratifying the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership could hinder New Zealand's attempts to address climate change.
Co-convenor Rhys Jones told a select committee hearing in Auckland yesterday climate change is the biggest health threat of the 21st century.
He says the impacts are starting to emerge, and they will only get worse.
Urgent action is needed to address it and dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses, which can be done in ways that improve health and well being and create a fairer society.
"The CPTPP as it's now called will put road blocks in the way of reducing our emissions and potentially undermine future Governments' ability to regulate to meet our obligations under the Paris Agreement and to address climate change," Dr Jones says.
Maori will be disproportionately affected by climate change because of things like damage to sites of cultural significance, contamination of food sources and lower socio-economic status.
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