Demonstrable Speed, Not Demonstrable Progress

One of the very few clear-cut issues in the Kyoto debate is the speed with which the Government is rushing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, says Business NZ.

Chief Executive Simon Carlaw says there are many ambiguities in the information on Kyoto so far, and the Energy Minister should reasonably expect them to be queried.

"We will all be more reassured when those ambiguities are clarified. However, it is surprising that Mr Hodgson should want to reassure New Zealanders on the basis of upcoming strategies for waste management and transport. Information released so far on the waste management strategy shows even less credible economic analysis underpinning it than the Government has so far produced to justify why New Zealand should be the only country in the southern hemisphere to take action on Kyoto in the next five years. We don't yet know what the transport strategy is apart from persistent reports that new fuel taxes are about hit the economy.

"The bottom line is that both Business NZ and the Government agree that the key priority is economic growth. It is the Government's task to inform New Zealanders exactly how the costs of Kyoto to address 0.2% of global warming will contribute to New Zealand's ability to maintain first world health, education and other social services."

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