Fossilised

You have to know your Climate Change policy is on pretty thin ice when you're comparing yourself to the three of the bottom ranking nations in the world concerning emission reduction targets. Yet, this is what John Key and Nick Smith did in parliament this week - to the applause of his party - saying New Zealand's emissions reduction target of 10-20% (let's go with 10%) is 'credible' considering the woeful ambitions of Australia, America, and the brain dead conservative government of Canada.

"New Zealand cannot afford a higher target" is the Prime Ministers message. Their fiscally responsible approach to climate change along with their winking disapproval of Brash's 2025 Task Force Report has made our government look positively independent and focussed on New Zealand's economic future... or is that indecision? Yet the continuing relegation of Climate Change behind vague economic priorities has earned New Zealand more shame internationally.

New Zealander's may be slow to learn that the "clean and green" myth is actually just a myth, but the international community is catching on quickly. Where is the international leadership? Where is the groundbreaking experiment of New Zealand? Is it chasing Australia, swimming to catch up with the Titanic?

New Zealand needs shame in Copenhagen. It needs to be lavished on. The Sign On and 10-20% Pure New Zealand movements here at home aren't moving the boulders, and protest just ostracise's those realists who want real action take on climate change as 'lefties'. International pressure however, that can be more credible. New Zealander's need external perspectives on National policies to swipe away that curtain of 'common sense' and view the portrait for what it really is: deformed.

I'm glad John Key is at Copenhagen. Maybe someone will throw a shoe at him.