17 Nov 2021

Climate Commission Chair on COP26 and NZ's pledges

From Nine To Noon, 9:10 am on 17 November 2021

COP26 has wrapped up in Glasgow, reaching an agreement filled with compromise. An agreement to holding global warming to 1.5 degrees was retained, but the means of getting there far from clear. All the commitments made by countries at the summit still saw the combined effort fall well short of what's needed to keep global warming to the target of 1.5 degrees.

New Zealand has pledged to halve emissions by 50% on 2005 levels by 2030, a significant step up on our previous pledge to cut emissions by 30% by 2030. But how this will be achieved is the subject of debate and criticism as two thirds of the promised emissions reductions will have to come through buying carbon credits from others countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, and counting these towards our own tally. Kathryn discusses the climate summit and New Zealand's approach with Chair of the Climate Change Commission, Dr Rod Carr.

Young climate protesters march through the streets of Glasgow on Friday Nov 5, 2021 to demand action on climate change from leaders and politicians at COP26.

Photo: AFP