WELLINGTON, Oct 13, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand put forward a raft of
carbon-cutting plans Wednesday, ranging from reduced car usage to making
ebikes more accessible to meet its target of becoming carbon-zero by 2050.

  But the proposals, which come ahead of the COP26 climate meeting of world
leaders in Glasgow at the end of this month and are a forerunner to the
government's emissions reduction plan next May, drew immediate criticism.

  New Zealand is under pressure to do more to curb carbon emissions, which
are increasing, but the discussion document made little mention of
agriculture which contributes 48 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions.

  Environmental group Greenpeace said the document was "full of meaningless
waffle" that did little to broach the conversation on reducing agricultural
emissions.

  Climate activists Generation Zero called it a "disgrace" that failed to
meet "unambitious emissions budgets, completely ignores agriculture -- which
makes up half of our emissions".

  However, Climate Change Minister James Shaw said there was "an entire work
program" dealing with the agricultural sector and "we didn't want to waste
people's time by including things that have either already been consulted on
or have other kind of engagement processes elsewhere."

  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the plans would reduce emissions and
"can also create jobs and new opportunities for Kiwi businesses and our
economy".

  The document comes almost two years after New Zealand passed its Zero
Carbon Act and a year after it declared a climate emergency.

  Ardern has previously described action on climate change as a matter of
"life or death" but has been called out by Swedish environmental activist
Greta Thunberg, who accused New Zealand of being "one of the world's worst
performers" on emission increases.

  "People believe Jacinda Ardern and people like that are climate leaders,"
Thunberg said last month.

  "That just tells you how little people know about the climate crisis.
Obviously, the emissions haven't fallen. It goes without saying that these
people are not doing anything."

  Many of the initiatives contained in the discussion document are from the
Climate Change Commission report presented to the government earlier this
year, including a 20 percent reduction in the use of cars by 2035.

  In the same period, it wants to reduce emissions from transport fuels by 15
percent, make public transport cheaper and more accessible, and introduce
incentives for those on low incomes to buy electric vehicles.

  Other ideas include the development of low-emission fuels, such as
bioenergy and hydrogen, eliminating the use of fossil gas, reducing food
waste and encouraging composting.