James Shaw has blasted National's proposal to reopen oil and gas exploration off the coast of Taranaki.
Speaking to Newshub Nation ahead of his trip to COP27, Climate Change Minister James Shaw expressed his frustration with the National Party's approach to climate change.
"Why you would do that at this particular moment in history is completely bonkers to me," Shaw told Newshub Nation.
The National Party has supported the Zero Carbon Act and the Climate Change Commission, but Shaw says their plans to deliver on climate goals "don't meet the reality test or the credibility test."
He admits the speed at which the Labour Party operates can be "occasionally frustrating," but adds "the National Party has shown no evidence that they would go any faster. In fact, they strongly suggest they would go slower."
Shaw is also disappointed with the performance of other countries attending COP27 and he has reservations about its ability to affect real change.
Shaw finds COP frustrating because "of countries and companies that use it as an opportunity to showcase inaction."
However, Shaw thinks it's still important to attend COP, calling it a "deeply imperfect system, but the only one we've got."
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has refused to attend this year's conference, calling it "an opportunity for leaders and people in power to get attention, using greenwashing - lying and cheating."
Shaw agrees with Thunberg's sentiments but still sees the conference as necessary, arguing that without consensus nothing sticks. This also applies in New Zealand where he fears that, without consensus, successive governments will just undo useful legislation. "If we're going to make any progress at all, it has to be enduring."
Watch the full interview for more.
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