Youth Zero aptly named – asks the impossible of Peter Dunne

Youth organisation Generation Zero is urging Peter Dunne to use his one-vote majority to be a climate hero when the Government’s Bill to amend the Emissions Trading Scheme has its last session of Parliamentary debate this evening.

The lobby group claims the “world is watching and they are not impressed”!

Generation Zero is calling for him to at least support amendments from MPs Moana Mackey and Kennedy Graham to legislate a 50% upper limit on the use of international emissions units in the ETS, in line with the EU and Australian schemes.

“The unlimited use of foreign carbon offsets is a critical problem with the current ETS, and if not fixed it will mean New Zealand’s only sliver of climate change action will be essentially worthless for the foreseeable future,” said Generation Zero policy coordinator Paul Young.

“If Dunne supports the amendment to implement a cap on foreign carbon offsets, he will be rescuing New Zealand’s climate change response from oblivion.”

Last week Generation Zero released a parody video clip of the song “Single Ladies” by Beyonce, with the message to the Government that “if you like [the ETS] then you better put a cap on it”. The video has attracted over 2,000 views.

Generation Zero’s actions have ranged from an 11-page submission to select committee to a ‘“are now attracting international attention. The world is watching and they are not impressed.