16 March 2006

Ballot result is good news for climate

A ballot at Parliament today selecting Greens Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons' "climate protection" bill is a rare win for all those who are lobbying authorities to take climate change seriously.

"I hope selection of this member's bill in the ballot, which means it will be debated in Parliament, will lead to much better scrutiny of plants burning fossil fuels," Ms Fitzsimons says. "It will hopefully also have a spin off in lowering pollution levels in our cities and around our factories.

"Climate change is arguably the greatest threat that life on our planet faces. My bill requires action at a local level - district and regional councils can have a major impact on greenhouse gas emissions."

Ms Fitzsimons' bill, the Resource Management (Climate Protection) Amendment Bill, repeals those sections of the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Act which prevented such consideration of climate change.

"Because the Government intended to address carbon emissions with a carbon pollution charge, it took away the right of regional councils to consider climate change emissions when they granted air discharge consents," Ms Fitzsimons says. "This meant the coal-fired power station at Marsden Point gained consent with no examination of its effects on climate change.

"Now that the proposed carbon charge has been cancelled, it is essential to pass this bill and restore the power of local government to control pollution."

ENDS

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