1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Paris Climate Accord needs to change or New Zealand needs 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: to leave. That's the message from the ACT Party. This 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: means both of National's coalition partners now want to leave 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: or evaluate the Paris Agreement. To ACT Party leader David 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: Seymour's with us now, Hi, David, Hey, okay, So you 6 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: say it has to reform or we leave. So what's 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: the reform that you want to see? 8 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 2: Well, I think the best reform would be something that 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: reflects our own emissions profile. We're a country, like some 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: in South America that have a very high exposure around 11 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: methane less so around CO two and the gases that 12 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: might relate to cities or industry, and at the moment 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 2: we face being punished for being a methane heavy economy. 14 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 2: I think it's about time that we perhaps along with 15 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: like minded nations. I'm thinking South America nations like Uruguay 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: that have a lot of livestock, also a lot of 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: Southeast Asian nations which produce a lot of rice, which 18 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 2: turns actually produces a lot of methane. We should be 19 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: going to Powis saying hang on a minute, instead of 20 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 2: our government officials making representations to the public that pay 21 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: them on behalf of these global institutions, maybe they should 22 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 2: actually be going on our behalf overseas to say, you 23 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 2: guys need to give a fair deal to methane heavy 24 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 2: economies because methane is a very different gas. It has 25 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 2: a much different effect on climate because it breaks down 26 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: over time, and therefore that scientific reality needs to be recognized. 27 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 2: Maybe then we should stay in it because we like 28 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 2: to be good global citizens. But like a bad boyfriend, 29 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 2: if the abuse continues and it doesn't change, then I 30 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 2: think we need to pull out. 31 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: Now. National says we can't pull out because if we do, 32 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: our farmers get punished and get pulled off shelves. 33 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: Is that what happens, Well, that is what some people 34 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: in the sector will say. So Myles Hurrell, for example, 35 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: sat down with him a month back. I think he's 36 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 2: a hell of a great guy, Miles, and that's an 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: argument that he's made. However, I just make the point 38 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 2: that the New Zealand agricultural sector is known for its 39 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 2: world beating innovation. Everybody is trying to create a mix 40 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: of products that actually appeal to foreign customers according to 41 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: their taste, and some people are going above and beyond 42 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 2: and actually doing zero carbon beef and so on. They 43 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,119 Speaker 2: don't need the entire country to do that in order 44 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 2: for them to succeed. Likewise, there are others who are 45 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: selling to customers and markets who have other concerns. So 46 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: I don't believe that it needs to be one size 47 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 2: fits all as a country. I believe what is important 48 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 2: is that New Zealand as a country does its bit, 49 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,959 Speaker 2: but does not drive the most efficient farmers in the 50 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: world out of business, so that used to be customers 51 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: end up buying their food from farmers overseas that actually 52 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 2: emit more per calorie of nutrition than we do. 53 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: Okay, So are you arguing that if Miles Harrell wants 54 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: to continue to supply people people who want to buy 55 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: milk and various products that are climate friendly, he can 56 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: continue to do so without us being in the Paris Accord. 57 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 2: He absolutely can, because ultimately, if you're a major supplier 58 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: and you're dealing with say a n Essay, then you 59 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: have the ability to make a deal with them. And 60 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: I know there's the argument, and I've gone back and 61 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: forth with various people say, oh, the rest of the 62 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 2: world just sees one brand, brand New Zealand. I actually 63 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 2: don't believe that is how most of the New Zealand 64 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: agricultural sector works. Actually, they're very sharp at innovating and 65 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: offering product offerings that are recognized for their merit rather 66 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: than their origin. 67 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: Brilliant stuff. David appreciate it. By the way. Actually, before 68 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: I let you go, do you reckon? 69 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 3: You can convince national well, we've got a pretty good 70 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 3: track record if you look at the influence that actors 71 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 3: had over this government is I think profound and I'm 72 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 3: very proud of what we're doing to make New Zealand 73 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 3: a better place. 74 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: So watch this space. 75 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: Thank you, David. David Seymour as party leader. For more 76 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: from Hither Dupless Allen Drive, listen live to news talks. 77 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 2: It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast 78 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: on iHeartRadio.