Photo: RNZThe government supports declaring a climate change emergency in Parliament but red tape got in the way of doing so, the prime minister says. Ms Ardern said Labour did vote in favour of the motion and she couldn't see any reason why MPs wouldn't want climate change to be recognised as a matter of urgency. "We're not opposed to the idea of declaring [a climate change] emergency in Parliament, because certainly I'd like to think our policies and our approach demonstrates that we do see it as an emergency." The climate change declaration has been signed by 90 percent of the country's mayors and council chairs around New Zealand, and it calls for the government to be ambitious with its climate change mitigation measures. Mrs Goudie has been vocal in opposing the declaration, and told RNZ she was not surprised there had been more action from the climate action group.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 03, 2019 03:45 UTC