Media release 9 November 2001

Rushing to harm

The NZ delegation's position at an international meeting currently underway on the Kyoto Protocol is harmful to New Zealand's interests, says Business New Zealand.

The NZ delegation today told the meeting that New Zealand was the only Umbrella Group nation to commit to ratification. The Umbrella Group contains the countries that have similar stances regarding forest sinks and a possible trading regime.

"The fact that New Zealand is committing itself ahead of even the Umbrella Group raises huge issues," says Business NZ Chief Executive Simon Carlaw.

"The Government has also just announced a consultation process to take place over the next three weeks, at which significant sectors of the economy will discuss Kyoto policy options for the first time.

"Without waiting to take any of this into consideration, the official NZ delegation is rushing to be the first developed nation to sign up to Kyoto.

"The Kyoto Protocol has the potential to hand over competitive advantage to countries that will not be ratifying. Many of these countries are our strongest competitors in global markets."

Contact: Simon Carlaw wk 04 4966555 or Kathryn Asare 021 555744 for more information

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