- New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has decided he will attend climate change talks in Copenhagen after initially labelling them a “photo opportunity”.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key
Mr Key says it would have looked odd if he had not turned up.
He recently said there was only a 5 per cent chance he would go to Copenhagen, but today he changed his mind.
“On balance it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Mr Key still does not believe there will be a binding agreement, but says he is much more optimistic there will be progress.
He says despite recent political ructions, he believes Australia will eventually get its emissions trading scheme (ETS) through the Senate.
“I’m confident Australia will have carbon capture and storage legislation on the books – or ETS legislation on the books – simply because it needs to put a price on carbon like every country does,” he said.
New Zealand’s ETS recently passed through Parliament.
