NZ’s climate commitments: is self-flagellation the price of global leadership?

Then California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addresses the 2009 Copenhagen global climate change summit (Image: Getty)

Adrian Macey and Dave Frame

Tue, 27 Sep 2022

In Glasgow last year, New Zealand announced that it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2030.This Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) was judged, by NZ officials, to be our fair share of the global effort needed under the 2016 Paris agreement.Only about 30% of this target would be met at home.The remaining 70% would need "offshore mitigation" – which can mean carbon markets, offsets or direct investment. But always, NZ paying others to reduce their emissions.That 70% is an uncapped liability since it de...

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