Posted on 7-8-2003

New Disease - Hodgson’s RMA

Auckland, Thursday 7 August 2003: Greenpeace today welcomed some parts of
Pete Hodgson’s proposed Resource Management Act (RMA) amendments, but
expressed grave concern over the gaping holes in climate protection left by
key proposals.

“On one hand the proposed law supports renewable ways for generating
electricity and energy efficiency to reduce climate change. But on the
other hand it says regional councils will not be able to consider
greenhouse gas emissions when looking at resource consents. That would be
fine if there were existing mechanisms to protect the climate from
greenhouse gas pollution ­ but there’s not,” said climate campaigner
Vanessa Atkinson. “The RMA amendments are one small step for renewable
energy, but one giant leap backwards for climate protection. “The
amendments point to a possible future National Environmental Standard to
address climate change pollution ­ but there isn’t one. The carbon tax on
emissions doesn’t take effect until 2007. The amendments optimistically
suggest that Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements would fill the gap, but these
special industry deals could just be ‘get out of jail free’ cards for big
climate polluters.”

“The RMA amendments create a loophole you could drive a coal truck through.
It raises the question whether this is a cynical move to allow the approval
of more coal, oil and gas polluting power stations before any national
regulation comes into force. “If there was any doubt about who is set to
benefit from these amendments the explanatory notes provides the answer. It
states they will ‘result in cost savings for those industries and
individuals who emit greenhouse gases…. such as oil refineries, coal- and
gas-fired power stations and cement producers’.”

“The carbon tax is a Labour Party policy. Policies and leadership can
change. The threat of a future carbon tax has so far proven useless in
slowing the massive increase in the burning of coal for electricity ­ the
most carbon dioxide intensive fossil fuel - as Genesis is moving ahead with
long term coal purchases to change Huntly power station to run mostly on
coal. “Amendments to remove greenhouse gas emission considerations at a
regional council level should be delayed until active national mechanisms
are in place”, concluded Ms Atkinson.