3. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she stand by the statement she made yesterday that “More than any other developed nation, New Zealand needs to go the extra mile to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase sustainability.”?
Does she think her rhetoric on New Zealand’s lowering its greenhouse gas emissions more than any other developed nation is consistent when she looks at her own record and the official figures, which show that New Zealand’s emissions since 1999 have grown at twice the rate of the United States, four times the rate of Japan, and are even larger than Australia’s?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
What I know is that emissions have been growing, the economy has been growing, and we have had dry years that have forced more reliance on thermal energy. That is why strategies like the Energy Strategy, which seek to put fossil fuel generation out of baseload and into reserve, are so important for the future.
Hon Annette KingHas she seen a newspaper report of April last year that speaks of gutting the legislation, particularly “the sustainability stuff”, which is attributed to Maurice Williamson; if so, what should New Zealanders believe when they hear the National Party leader saying that he has always believed in climate change, and could it be considered hollow rhetoric?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is indeed hollow rhetoric to say, in 2005, that this stuff about climate change is a hoax and then to say, when one becomes the Leader of the Opposition, that one believed all along in climate change being a problem. I would say that the reason we will not hear any commitment to sustainability from the National Party is that those members do not believe in it, and Maurice Williamson’s intention to gut the transport legislation to take sustainability out proves that beyond doubt.
Is the Prime Minister aware that the announcements she made yesterday amount to reductions of less than 1 million tonnes of carbon, and what does she think that does in terms of her statement to make New Zealand carbon neutral when, on a yearly basis, we emit over 75 million tonnes?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Across the proposals the Government has out for consultation on energy, on sustainable land management, on the decisions we have made on biofuels, and on the leadership the Government intends to give, there will be a substantial impact. I note that the National Party puts such a high priority on these policies that the Bluegreen website still has Don Brash as the leader on it, with the memorable quote: “Environmental issues are too important to be left to the fringes of New Zealand politics.” I am afraid that Don is now on the fringes.
Peter BrownWill the Prime Minister confirm what she meant when she stated: “New Zealand needs to go the extra mile to lower greenhouse gas emissions”, and will she tell us specifically whether the extra mile will include the imposition of additional tax on transport and/or power?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
What I was referring to was the likelihood of environmental protectionism, which affects New Zealand trade and tourism, hitting us if we do not go the extra mile to ensure that we are sustainable in what we do as a nation—what we produce, how we produce it—and to mount strong arguments around our travel being not actually as carbon-intensive as all the short-haul flights around Europe. Can I say to the member that on the issue of something like carbon taxes, there was not a majority to proceed with this in this Parliament.
Heather RoyIn the light of that answer, what will the cost be to Kiwi families and businesses of eliminating the 0.02 percent of the world’s carbon emissions that New Zealand generates, given that Treasury calculates this country’s lesser obligation under the Kyoto Protocol at over half a billion dollars?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I think it is more important to focus on what is the cost of not going the extra mile for sustainability, because the possible loss to New Zealand in terms of trade and tourism is rather significant. I believe that if businesses and households are able to become more sustainable, over time, there are savings in it.
Is the reason the Prime Minister will not answer my question—that her savings yesterday were 1 million tonnes and New Zealand is emitting over 75 million tonnes—that, like all things the Government does in this department, her record and her rhetoric are completely different; and if she really cared about making New Zealand carbon neutral, why did she not storm in yesterday and tell the country about some really big areas of savings?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I note that the mere move of going to more energy-efficient cars in the VIP fleet in itself takes out a lot of tonnes of carbon dioxide. What we announced yesterday was the first steps in a lot of areas, and that is better than having no steps at all and a whole lot of slogans.
Will the Prime Minister acknowledge that the most environmentally friendly form of transport is shipping; if she does acknowledge that, will her Government assist in the development and the enhancement of New Zealand shipping?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
One of the reasons New Zealand can show that it is indeed a sustainable producer and transporter of its goods to faraway markets is that shipping plays a very big part in primary produce commodities going to market. I defer to the member’s expertise on shipping. I think it does raise the issue of whether there should be more emphasis on shipping as a sustainable form of transport.
If carbon neutral is not just a slogan, could the Prime Minister tell the House exactly where she is going to save the other 74 million tonnes of emissions we are currently emitting, over and above the million she saved yesterday?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Emissions savings are going to come, over time, in the way we use transport, in the way we generate energy, and in many, many ways. We have to take the steps towards sustainability. We have outlined where they are; the National Party has not got a clue.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I asked the Prime Minister quite clearly to outline exactly what those steps were, and she did not, because she cannot. But she came back and said she would outline them. Well, I have asked that question. Maybe she would like to.
Madam SPEAKERI listened carefully and the Prime Minister did in fact start to outline the areas. There was, however, some interruption with noise, so that some members may not have been able to hear her.
Does the Prime Minister accept that if she were really serious about being carbon neutral, and it was not just a slogan, she would not come down to the House and save a million tonnes but she would do something about the big areas that are really making a difference—like net deforestation in New Zealand, where she could do something instead of actually putting on taxes in such an area, which is actually accelerating net deforestation in New Zealand?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
In light of the member’s professed concern, I look forward to his and his party’s support for measures arising out of the current consultation on how to arrest deforestation and have more reforestation. But I know it would be a challenge to the National Party to engage on these issues.