National's dirty political attacks on @jamespeshaw & a team of diplomats attending the COP26 climate talks are in bad faith.
He is taking a smaller team than any National minister took in 2008-2016.
And he doesn't have an option, largely because of choices made under National.
He is taking a smaller team than any National minister took in 2008-2016.
And he doesn't have an option, largely because of choices made under National.
First – trust me it's not possible to make these negotiations virtual. Or trust the Alliance of Small Island States, or the Climate Vulnerable Forum, or African activists, or academics, or... climatechangenews.com/2019/08/29/ban…
Second – I'm not going, but may launch a report virtually.
Second – I'm not going, but may launch a report virtually.
So, why does James need ~10 diplomats (NOT ministerial or political staffers) there? And what does National have to do with it?
These negotiations run 16-20 hours a day for 2 weeks straight, with 30+ parallel technical negotiations happening at once.
These negotiations run 16-20 hours a day for 2 weeks straight, with 30+ parallel technical negotiations happening at once.
Even a full team of 20+ diplomats couldn't have one person in every negotiating room at once.
The US sent hundreds of people to Paris. In Copenhagen, they sent a whole NSA spy team too.
So even the biggest delegations New Zealand have ever spent can't cover everything relevant.
The US sent hundreds of people to Paris. In Copenhagen, they sent a whole NSA spy team too.
So even the biggest delegations New Zealand have ever spent can't cover everything relevant.
This year's climate negotiation is the most significant since Paris in 2015 – and especially for New Zealand.
The Paris Agreement is built around five year pledge and review cycles. Every five years, countries should submit new targets. New Zealand's is already overdue.
The Paris Agreement is built around five year pledge and review cycles. Every five years, countries should submit new targets. New Zealand's is already overdue.
So, there are big international reputational risks with real trade implications if we don't show up with a meaningful new target.
But there's more.
NZ emissions have risen almost constantly since 1990. Because successive governments didn't cut emissions, they rely on buying...
But there's more.
NZ emissions have risen almost constantly since 1990. Because successive governments didn't cut emissions, they rely on buying...
...carbon credits. The 2015 promise National made depended on us being able to buy credible emissions units from overseas.
Trouble is, the Paris Rulebook agreed in 2018 missed a chapter: the rules on international emissions trading.
Billions or trillions of NZD are at stake.
Trouble is, the Paris Rulebook agreed in 2018 missed a chapter: the rules on international emissions trading.
Billions or trillions of NZD are at stake.
In 2018 & 2019, Shaw was the ministerial co-facilitator for the negotiations on carbon trading. That's how important it is to NZ's national interest, and how pivotal NZ's role was.
But James isn't a technical expert. There are ~4 people in NZ who understand those negotiations.
But James isn't a technical expert. There are ~4 people in NZ who understand those negotiations.
Resolving carbon trading rules isn't just about money.
Civil society and Indigenous people have pushed for human rights protections. A failure to get those in will lead to Indigenous peoples being driven from their lands and homes, as happened under the Kyoto Protocol.
Civil society and Indigenous people have pushed for human rights protections. A failure to get those in will lead to Indigenous peoples being driven from their lands and homes, as happened under the Kyoto Protocol.
So should James not go? Or not take an MFAT lawyer? Or not take a carbon markets specialist?
But there's more too. What about farming? National pushed for agricultural emissions negotiations for nine years. Should NZ sit those out, leaving NZ farmers unrepresented and at risk?
But there's more too. What about farming? National pushed for agricultural emissions negotiations for nine years. Should NZ sit those out, leaving NZ farmers unrepresented and at risk?
Or what about forestry? Or the Indigenous Peoples' Platform? Or finance? Or...?
Each of these areas is incredibly technical. I have a decade's experience at COP, and I understand only a fraction – but I've seen the impact of each.
Each of these areas is incredibly technical. I have a decade's experience at COP, and I understand only a fraction – but I've seen the impact of each.
In government, National understood this – and reached across Parliament. They invited Shaw to his first COP in 2015. Shaw invited National's climate spokesperson to come FOLLOWING A PRECEDENT STARTED BY NATIONAL.
Now, though? National are using this as a dirty politics stick.
Now, though? National are using this as a dirty politics stick.
Instead of asking their current and former colleagues who went to these negotiations – including both MPs and advisors – about the practicalities and realities, they're lobbing grenades.
Make no mistake: If National was in government, they'd still send 10+ diplomats to Glasgow.
Make no mistake: If National was in government, they'd still send 10+ diplomats to Glasgow.
Oh – and the Minister and diplomats are also sitting in the MIQ queue, and so many might not go if they can't get slots.
That's a real gamble, which looks to be pushed by dirty politics – and one that exposes NZ exporters especially to billions in risks.
That's a real gamble, which looks to be pushed by dirty politics – and one that exposes NZ exporters especially to billions in risks.
https://twitter.com/TheSpinoffTV/status/1440091771535384581?s=20
This is actually a good thing:
https://twitter.com/henrycooke/status/1440129780460834816
Fact check: true, true, true, true, sometimes yes but also sometimes pushing for secrecy, true
https://twitter.com/henrycooke/status/1440133278720163843
These are all very good, important questions:
https://twitter.com/alex_m_johnston/status/1440141057518309378
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