High Court affirms Greenpeace climate change rights on Marsden B

Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman today enthusiastically welcomed a High Court ruling that climate change factors can be considered during Greenpeace’s upcoming appeal against the proposed Marsden B power station.

“This is a great decision for the people of Whangarei, for the New Zealand environment and for a planet struggling to cope with past and current levels of CO2 emissions,” Dr Norman says.

“We cannot afford to be charging ahead to build more polluting coal-fired power stations while ignoring the environmental costs. By some estimates, Marsden B will release 2.17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, along with significant amounts of mercury, dioxin and sulphur.

“Hitherto, a gap existed in the law. Two years ago, the RMA was amended in such a way as to stop regional councils from being able to directly evaluate and regulate climate change emissions.

“Thanks to today’s ruling, the climate change impacts of burning tonnes of cheap, dirty coal can now be considered within hearing consents. This should also put renewable energy alternatives at an advantage, in that they’ll now be be able to place their climate change benefits on the table.

“Most of all, the ruling should push the Government towards formulating a modern, coherent energy policy – one in which polluters are finally made to pay the costs of the carbon they emit.

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