News & Media

Zero Carbon Act is New Zealand’s welcome step up for poor countries

November 8, 2019

In response to the passing of the Zero Carbon Bill into law, Oxfam New Zealand Advocacy and Campaigns Director Jo Spratt said:

“Together with our supporters, Oxfam has been calling for robust climate action for many years, to protect the world’s poorest people from the very worst of climate breakdown. New Zealand is now taking a critical step up for those communities.

“The passing of this law is a tribute to the years of hard work and leadership of organisations like Generation Zero, and a win for the thousands of New Zealanders who mobilised for an enduring and bi-partisan climate action framework.

“This law is just the beginning of making sure we play our part in tackling climate breakdown. People on the front lines of the climate crisis have been waiting for decades for us to step up and act to stay within 1.5C. We have the basic legislative framework in place – the task now is to keep pushing for ambitious policies so we can truly meet the calls for climate justice.

“That a country such as Aotearoa can achieve cross-party support for climate legislation is a small beacon of hope for our Pacific neighbours facing the impacts of climate breakdown right now. It shows the power that we have when we join together and stand for a thriving, climate-resilient world – one where everyone has a stable environment to grow up in and the resources to determine their own future.”

Remembering Fran, Oxfam NZ Board Member

November 6, 2019

It is with extreme sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Board member, Fran McGrath.

Fran was a CORSO member in Otago from the 1980s and provided one of our valued links to the founding spirit of Oxfam in New Zealand. She became an integral part of our Oxwhanau when she joined us as a Board member in 2014. In her time with us, Fran demonstrated such an incredible passion for justice and commitment to making the world a more equitable place. Fran was a thoughtful, generous, intelligent and wise woman.

Professionally, Fran has been an exceptional public health champion and has dedicated years of service to public health medicine and public policy. She has also worked as a volunteer and medical specialist in community programmes in Aotearoa NZ and across the world. She represented Aotearoa NZ at the World Health Organisation, and has worked across government. Only recently Fran had begun her role as President of the Public Health Association of New Zealand.

We here at Oxfam NZ are heartbroken but feel so appreciative that Fran chose to make Oxfam a part of her life. We will be forever grateful for her passion, confidence and commitment. She will be dearly missed by us all.

Our thoughts are with her husband Edwin, her family and close friends at this difficult time.

Arohanui.

Chile Government Cancels UN Climate Summit – Oxfam Reaction

October 31, 2019

Responding to the decision by the government of Chile not to host the UN Climate Change Summit in December 2019 following weeks of social unrest, Asier Hernando, Deputy Director of Oxfam in Latin America and the Caribbean said:

“Oxfam supports the right of the Chilean people to peaceful protest, and their right to demand that their government works in the interests of all citizens and not just a fortunate few. We condemn the heavy-handed response of the Chilean government to the protests.”

“The same flawed economic policies that have sparked protests on the streets of Chile are fuelling the global climate crisis and the global inequality crisis. Urgent action is needed by governments to build economies that put people and the environment before economic growth and corporate profits.”

“With time running out to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown, the United Nations must work with governments to ensure that international talks do not lose momentum and that COP 25 finds an alternative home – ideally in Latin America.”

Oxfam reaction to Green Climate Fund pledging summit

October 30, 2019

Responding to the outcome of the pledging conference to the Green Climate Fund in Paris, Armelle Le Comte, Climate and Energy Advocacy Manager for the Oxfam confederation, said:

“The pledges made today send an important signal that wealthy countries should help the developing world face the growing perils of climate change. It is encouraging that a range of countries including Norway, Sweden, Germany, the UK and France will double their contributions compared with the previous financing period. This will allow the fund to continue its important mission to assist developing countries in adapting to worsening climate impacts.

“However, it is appalling that Australia and the US have failed to provide any funding at all, while many other nations have made only token gestures or contributions far below their fair share. Millions of people around the world are already facing hunger, homelessness and extreme poverty because of the climate crisis. Oxfam urges wealthy countries that have not pledged anything or remain far below their fair share to increase their contributions ahead of the COP25 climate summit in December.”

Dr Joanna Spratt, Advocacy and Campaigns Director for Oxfam New Zealand said:
“We welcome the increased pledge from the New Zealand government to help fund crucial climate mitigation and adaptation projects around the world. This is a win for the hundreds of people who have been emailing the Foreign Minister demanding that we stand with the Pacific and increase our support for countries where the effects of climate breakdown are felt the most.

“A US$10m replenishment to the Green Climate Fund is an improvement, increasing our last pledge by five times. This will help to support the dozens of projects in poorer countries waiting for new funding. However, if we were honouring our fair share of responsibility to fund a climate-resilient future for people in poor countries, we would need to have pledged US$50-90m this week.

“In the age of increasingly insular and isolationist politics, we need to be growing our support for multilateral mechanisms to tackle climate destruction. We also need to listen to the voices of the countries bearing the brunt of climate change for a collective commitment to support them.

“We urge the government to outline a plan for increasing our Green Climate Fund contribution further, as well as climate finance in general, in line with a rising aid budget so that we can be contributing our fair share.”

Zero Carbon Bill risks failing to live up to its purpose, Oxfam says

October 22, 2019

In response to the Environment Select Committee’s report on the Zero Carbon Bill, Oxfam New Zealand spokesperson Alex Johnston said:

“To live up to its stated purpose of helping keep global warming within 1.5 degrees, the Zero Carbon Bill needs significant amendments when it goes back before the House to give us the transformative targets that we need, backed up by proper legal accountability,” Johnston said.

“A 2030 methane target of only 10% hamstrings our ambition and puts an unfair burden on the other sectors of the economy to pick up the slack. Likewise, the methane target range for 2050 is too low to encompass the scenarios for staying under 1.5 degrees laid out by the IPCC.

“We need a version of the Bill that will see every sector pitching in to at the very least halve our overall emissions by 2030. This is the bare minimum required by developed countries to take responsibility for our pollution and to keep the world on track to achieve the aims of the Paris Agreement.

“To not do so is to let down the i-Kiribati and people of Tuvalu. It indicates that we will not act for a 1.5-degree future or live up to our responsibilities towards our Pacific neighbours.

“It is good to see more scope for the courts to make sure decision-makers are taking targets and emissions budgets into account, but we had also hoped to see proper legal accountability restored in the Bill, so there would be remedies available if these targets are not going to be met.

“Every percent of emissions reductions, and every tenth of a degree of warming matters – what targets we set and how we enforce them determines the value we place on the millions of lives being disrupted right now by climate breakdown.

“We hope that those MPs who gave messages of hope to the 170,000 New Zealanders striking for ambitious climate action last month will put forward amendments to get this Bill into shape, so that we can play our part for climate justice.”

Notes for editors:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C (SR15) laid out four scenario pathways for staying within 1.5 degrees of global warming. While the interquartile range for methane emissions was a 24-47% reduction by 2050 (from 2010 levels), the full range of pathways was up to a 69% reduction by 2050 (IPCC SR1.5, Figure SPM.3B).

Aroha and gratitude for our volunteers

September 18, 2019

Oxfam is lucky enough to be supported by countless inspiring volunteers, who make so much possible around the globe.

Volunteers get involved with many, varied aspects of Oxfam’s work; from office administration, to data analysis, marketing, fundraising, campaigning, or helping to make Oxfam Trailwalker an annual success. They generously give their time and skills out of the kindness of their hearts, greatly adding to what we can achieve.

As Sasha Fesenko, one of Oxfam’s Auckland volunteers says:

“Oxfam. Have fun while helping make a difference! I have been volunteering at Oxfam Aotearoa for almost a year, but they still always find ways to surprise me. Maybe it is because I’m not from New Zealand, but it seems to me that it is because of the people who work there.

“A year ago, having recently moved to New Zealand, I was studying English and looking for an opportunity to practise the language whilst also learning more about the world-famous New Zealand work-life balance. The solution was found in volunteering, which in addition to meeting my goals, made it possible to do something useful for people in need. I applied for a data maintenance role in Oxfam and was very worried before my first ‘interview’ in New Zealand. When I arrived, I was met by a smiling and shining Volunteer Coordinator, who immediately made me feel at home and I felt like the happiest person.

“I was impressed with how many volunteers are involved in the activities of Oxfam and how the charity is working at in several directions at once. In my personal opinion, one of the strongest values of Oxfam is connectedness because in some way everyone is involved in each other’s activities and projects, always sharing their ideas with colleagues – whilst also having fun.

“What can volunteering bring to you? A lot! You can improve your skills or acquire new ones, meet interesting and extraordinary people and make new friends from all over the world, gain work experience or learn more about charity work, and of course feel good by helping people. Moreover, as a foreigner you can get language practice, local work experience, references and even a job offer.

“It’s wonderful to know that as a volunteer, I am making a difference in someone’s life who lives far away. I want to say that I’m grateful to Oxfam for allowing me to be a part of the team.”

Find out more about volunteering with Oxfam here.

Volunteer for Oxfam here