3. GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy
Will the Government’s energy strategy document adopt carbon neutrality as an attainable goal?
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Energy) Link to this
The draft New Zealand Energy Strategy sets out how New Zealand can advance towards carbon neutrality. Our abundant sources of renewable energy mean that New Zealand is already a leader in sustainable energy. The strategy will set us on a path that will enable us sustainably to reduce our total carbon dioxide emissions—including transport emissions—from energy for the first time in our history.
Why would anyone believe Labour’s commitment to carbon neutrality, when statistics out today show that after 7 years of a Labour Government we produce the same amount of hydroelectricity and the same amount of wind generation as previously, that the proportion of electricity generated by those renewable sources is as low as it has ever been since 1961, and that we are now generating more than three times the amount of electricity we used to from coal?
As the Prime Minister has already noted, the main reason that thermal generation was so high in recent years was the relative shortage of water. It is true that despite the opposition of the National Party to climate change policy for the last few years, the Government has already brought forward the cost-effective development of wind generation. We have a wind resource that, if not the most cost-effective wind resource in the world, is amongst the most cost-effective, and that has been achieved through the Government’s climate change policy, which, until now, National has opposed.
Charles ChauvelWhen will the draft New Zealand Energy Strategy become public for consultation, and what will it achieve?
The draft New Zealand Energy Strategy is to be released on Monday next week, and it sets out the Government’s vision for a cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable energy system. We will welcome feedback from interested groups and members of the public during the submission period, which runs until 30 March next year.
How can he defend his energy efficiency and climate change strategies, when total electricity generation does not fall but goes up by 4,400 gigawatt hours, and when the share of that powered by coal is over 85 percent?
Electricity consumption in New Zealand has gone up under the Labour Government because we have had strong economic growth during the period of our Government. In terms of the proportion of New Zealand’s electricity that comes from renewable sources, it is true that it has dropped in recent years. It is also true that at an average of around 70 percent of all generation at the moment, it remains the third-highest percentage in the world, but we have an ambition to do even better than that.
What evidence does the Minister have to dispute the suggestion that it is now much easier to get consent for a thermal power generation project than it is for a renewable power generation project?
I will give one example. The rather convoluted and lengthy hearings procedure for the Marsden B coal-fired power station, for which consent has not yet been granted and may not be granted, is, of course, much lengthier than the average for wind farm applications.
Peter BrownDoes the Minister accept that being carbon neutral will amount to very little on a global basis if the USA, China, and India do not address their carbon emissions; if he does accept that, and noting that he has just been to Nairobi to attend a convention on climate change, can he outline what is expected of those nations?
It remains true that New Zealand is a higher-than-average emitter of greenhouse gas emissions—quite a bit higher than China on a per capita basis. It also remains true that for the world to overcome the climate change challenge, countries like America and China should do their bit.