Govt doesn't know if emissions will fall

"Despite much fanfare over its decision to ban offshore oil and gas exploration, the Government doesn't know whether it will lead to lower global greenhouse gas emissions", says ACT Leader David Seymour.

Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods confirmed in response to a written parliamentary question from Mr Seymour that no "specific estimate" of the impact of the Government’s decision on global greenhouse gas emissions had been made.

“Jacinda Ardern has said climate change is her generation’s ‘nuclear-free moment’.

"Yet, when she announced her Government’s decision to end offshore oil and gas exploration, she didn’t actually know whether it would help in the fight against climate change.

“An end to exploration and production in New Zealand will just mean those activities shift to other countries, doing nothing to reduce total emissions.

“The Government has decided to gut an industry that pays $500 million a year in taxes and royalties, and employs 11,000 people at peak times, without knowing how it would affect global greenhouse gas emissions.

“That is economic vandalism of the worst kind”, says Mr Seymour.

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