Just to clarify, they (petrostate) did not give NZ the fossil award. And I don't see why they would be hostile. NZ opening up oil and gas exploration gives the big oil companies (who are the petrostate's allies) a lot more "pie" than it gives New Zealand.

New Zealand made a brief appearance in yesterday’s fossil fuel debate. It won the first Fossil of the Day award of this COP for the National-led government’s campaign promise to revoke the previous government’s ban on offshore oil exploration beyond Taranaki’s coastal waters.

The government was making “a U-turn on the way to a liveable future,” said the Climate Action Network, which made the award. CAN involves some 1,100 NGOs in more than 120 countries.

This event is one of a long line of attempts to negotiate a reduction in climate change impacts.

Every single one has been accompanied by excuses as to why this years specific event should not be taken seriously.

We will soon be at the point where the main excuse will be that it's all to late.

If we had acted in 1990 like planned, it would have worked and cost very little.

And lets face facts, it has been conservatives of all stripes globally that have been the main drag on action.