Climate scientist says West Coast’s reason for rejecting Zero Carbon Bill isn’t genuine

January 30, 2019

The council said more evidence of man-made climate change is needed, but James Renwick disagrees.

Climate scientist James Renwick believes the attitudes of the West Coast Regional Council in not supporting the Government's Zero Carbon Bill is a social issue rather than them not understanding science.

Yesterday, the council said it wanted more scientific evidence to prove human-driven climate change is happening before it will commit to reducing emissions.

The council does not support the Government's Zero Carbon Bill and is the only regional council in the country to reject it.

Mr Renwick said the response from the council was "a little bit curious".

"I don't think there's a shortage of understandable information out there about climate change," he told TVNZ 1's Breakfast. 

The West Coast's economy is built around industries including coal mining, dairy and milk processing, so the idea of reducing carbon emissions and going to a zero carbon economy might seem threatening to an area like the West Coast, Mr Renwick said.

"It might make the future seem pretty uncertain so maybe there more of a social issue here than an understanding of the science issue.

"The whole world needs to get to zero carbon emissions if we really are serious about stopping climate change."

Mr Renwick wanted New Zealand to lead the world on starting the movement.

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