The Labour Party in New Zealand says it's offensive that the Prime Minister, John Key, talks about the importance of climate change in the Pacific, yet has a laughable target for greenhouse gas emissions.
Pacific leaders made a commitment at the Pacific Islands Forum to urgently cut green house gas emissions and become leaders in the fight to combat climate change.
New Zealand and Australia say they will cut their emissions by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
The labour spokesperson for the environment, Maryan Street, says this target is not just lacking in ambition, it's laughable.
"So he needs to be more serious about climate change, five percent is a nothing amibition. We really need to have a substantial reduction in green-house gas emissions by 2020, and to play our part in reducing our emissions. We could be a leader in this area if Mr Key had some courage about this."
Maryan Street says Pacific Island leaders are not fools and would have seen that climate change takes very little priority in New Zealand.
