Posted on 30-4-2002

NZ Govt. Climate - Hot & Dry

Auckland 30 April 2002: Greenpeace New Zealand today urged the Government
to stop listening to polluters and their scare-mongering and adopt
immediate domestic policy responses to global climate change. “Avoiding
action now to tackle climate change is delaying the inevitable. The world
will change its economic base in order to deal with this global issue,”
said Greenpeace New Zealand Climate Campaigner, Robbie Keman. “The New
Zealand government has been heavily influenced by lobbying from polluting
industries to defer action, and will miss the boat on new technologies. “A
possible carbon levy in 2007 of $25 a tonne is too long coming and will be
fiercely resisted by big industry polluters who always try and avoid paying
for their effects on the environment.”

The New Zealand Government has emphasised forest sinks will meet Kyoto
targets and perhaps provide the Government with a surplus of carbon credits
to sell overseas. “An over reliance on forest sinks to meet Kyoto targets
is a major flaw in world efforts to combat climate change. “The real issue
is how New Zealand moves away from a reliance on fossil fuels to becoming a
totally renewable energy economy. “Given the Government’s encouraging
leadership on deciding to ratify the Kyoto Protocol it is disappointing to
see such a weak policy position in implementation. A delay of five years is
totally unacceptable.”

For more information: Robbie Kelman Ph; 09 630 6317 ext 849 or 021 790 817
or Brendan Lynch 021 790 817