The latest United Nations' report on climate change confirms that action to counter global warming is both affordable and practical, New Zealand said Saturday, according to DPA. "The report confirms that with technologies that are available today, and that are currently being developed, we can cut emissions and avoid the worst projected impacts of climate change," David Parker, a cabinet minister dealing with the environment, said in a statement. Such actions would also deliver other economic, environmental and health benefits, Parker said after the third report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was released Friday. He said the New Zealand government had already proposed policies described by the IPCC as being effective and affordable, including measures to put a price on carbon dioxide emissions, increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures, develop more renewable energy and expand the use of bio-fuels. "The IPCC report is consistent with our view that it's cheaper to take action on climate change than not, especially when you take into account the long-term risks," Parker said. Vanessa Atkinson, climate campaigner for Greenpeace New Zealand, urged the government to take "swift and serious action" to combat climate change following the report. "It's quite clear that immediate action to cut emissions is needed," she said.
