The Dreyfus Files - The Age
On Wednesday I had the pleasure of meeting New Zealand's new High Commissioner to Australia, Major-General (retired) Martyn Dunne in Canberra.
Unfortunately, it was a sobering time in which to welcome him to our country given the most recent aftershocks that rocked Christchurch earlier in the week, tragically resulting in yet another death.
Dealing with tragedy has been an all too familiar theme for the residents of Christchurch in recent months as a series of quakes have plagued this very beautiful city. I think all Australians have been deeply moved by these events and the manner in which the New Zealand nation has joined together to support the people of Christchurch in their hour of need.
It represents, I think, the national qualities of courage, determination and resilience that New Zealand has forged throughout its history. I know that I speak on behalf of all Australians in wishing the residents of Christchurch our strongest support in rebuilding their shattered community.
My discussion with Major-General Dunne also reminded me how successful New Zealand has been in its history in leading on issues of important national policy. For instance, in 1893 New Zealand became the first nation in the world to provide women the right to vote.
A year later it also developed a system of compulsory arbitration between employers and unions that became the fundamental pillar of the industrial relations systems in both of our nations.
Given this impressive record, it should be no surprise that New Zealand has taken appropriate action to tackle the difficult issue of climate change. And this is understandable given its geography and its role as a developed nation in the South West Pacific region.
The South Island, for those who have visited this beautiful part of the world, is resplendent with glaciers and fjords which are under threat from the impact of global warming.
Rising sea levels is also a major issue for many island nations in the region that depend on New Zealand for support. Faced with these realities, New Zealand has taken action.
First, they recognised the need to join the international community in combating climate change, and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in September 1993. They then signed the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC on 22 May 1998 and ratified it on 19 December 2002.
It took Australia five years to catch up, when this government ratified the Kyoto Protocol as its first act upon coming to office. New Zealand has played an active and positive role in the UNFCCC negotiations. Much is being carried forward by the New Zealand Minister Responsible for International Climate Change Negotiations Tim Groser.
At the UNFCCC negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009 and Cancun in 2010 New Zealand pledged to reduce its carbon pollution by between 10 per cent and 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
And most significantly, New Zealand recognised that it needed to undertake action to transition to a lower emissions economy in an effort to reduce pollution. It decided that a market mechanism was the cheapest and most effective way of reducing carbon pollution in their economy.
Accordingly, an Emissions Trading Scheme has been in operation in NZ since 2008. Although it initially only covered the forestry sector, in 2010 it brought some of its larger sectors into the scheme – including stationary energy, industrial processes and transport fuels.
The NZ Government aims to incorporate all sectors of the economy into the scheme by 2015. It is currently subject to a review by an independent panel, which is due to report in June this year.
The adoption of an Emissions Trading Scheme demonstrates that New Zealand recognises the importance of acting on climate change and contributing to international efforts in reducing global pollution.
This is despite the fact that New Zealand contributes around 0.2 per cent to global carbon pollution. This certainly makes a mockery of those who argue that Australia shouldn't act on climate change as we only represent 1.5 per cent of the world's pollution
When New Zealand Prime Minister John Key makes history next week as the first New Zealand Prime Minister to address the Australian Parliament, Australia's politicians may well reflect on how New Zealand has responded and led on this important national policy challenge.
