(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in New Zealand believe global warming is a national issue, according to a poll by ShapeNZ, the Business Council for Sustainable Development, and the National Business Review. 42 per cent of respondents believe global warming is a problem for New Zealand now, while 35 per cent call it urgent and immediate.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth's average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. New Zealand signed the UNFCCC in 1992, and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 1998.

On Apr. 10, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report which claims that warming temperatures will cause more droughts and higher sea levels in Australia and New Zealand by 2030. These changes, according to the document, would significantly impact the economies of the two nations.

Earlier this month, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a special report on New Zealand's environment, which states the country has made progress in many areas, but warned of increasing water pollution. Green party member Nandor Tanczos said the document outlines major failures in the current administration's policies, adding, "This report is a pretty clear indication that our global reputation for being clean and green is getting ever more tarnished. It is long overdue for the government to get serious on environmental issues."

Polling Data

Do you think climate change or global warming, due to the Greenhouse Effect, is an urgent issues facing New Zealand, or not really a problem at all?

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