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Source: Reuters -
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Both Labour and the Greens say they are disappointed with the government's reduction figure for greenhouse gas pollution .
Labour's calling it timid, saying the government commissioned pessimistic economic modelling to justify the low target.
And the Greens say our clean green brand is being undermined.
The target will be part of New Zealand's negotiating position at an international climate change conference later this year and the final target would depend on how those talks went.
But the government says its target range of 10 to 20% below 1990 levels by the year 2020 balances economic opportunities with environmental responsibilities.
Federated Farmers says it's seeking urgent clarity on what this means for farmers and farming, with New Zealand the only signatory to the Kyoto agreement that intends to include agriculture in its emissions trading scheme.
Greenpeace undeterred
Meanwhile, Greenpeace says it will not give up on its campaign for a more ambitious target.
Prime Minister John Key says the targets were credible and the cuts of 40% called for by Greenpeace would cause too much economic damage.
Greenpeace senior climate campaigner Simon Boxer says the target was too low and it was wrong that it was conditional on other countries doing more.
"We have a long long way to go before New Zealand is a constructive player at the United Nation's climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December," Boxer says.
"10 to 20% does not even put us at the lower rung of what the science says is required. They have fired a dart and the dart hasn't even hit the dartboard."
