Climate Change Forum

 Residents of the Queenstown Lakes District are being encouraged to attend a public meeting on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target, hosted by the government and chaired by QLDC Mayor Clive Geddes.

The meeting is one of nine, nation-wide, allowing the government to ‘hear the voice of New Zealanders’ on the matter.

The meeting will be attended by the Hon Dr Nick Smith, Minister for Climate Change Issues.
“At the end of the day this is an issue for all New Zealanders. Our gross emissions have increased significantly since 1990 and the implications of addressing that, effect every single household and every single business,” Mr Geddes said.
The purpose of the series of meetings was to inform and get feedback from the public on the economic and environmental implications associated with the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. The aim for the government would be trying to achieve a post 2012 international agreement in Copenhagen in December, this year to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

The public meeting was not the only means by which residents could have a say, with a ‘live’ panel discussion online from 7.70pm on Monday 20 July at www.r2.co.nz/20090720 or views could be written or emailed to the Minister directly.

The Queenstown meeting would be held at 7.30pm in the Icon Room at the Heritage Hotel on Friday 10 July.
A brochure outlining the issues (attached) was available on the Ministry for the Environment website.