Chauvel to take part in climate change programme
Hon Charles Chauvel
Spokesperson for Climate
Change
2 December 2008 Media Statement
Chauvel to take part in international climate change study programme
Labour Party Spokesperson
on Climate Change Charles Chauvel will next week travel to
Europe for an EU-sponsored study programme on climate
change.
Mr Chauvel said that the EU study trip, in which takes place immediately after the international meeting on climate change Poznan, would include briefings from senior EU officials on the latest developments on climate change.
“This is also an opportunity for me to show important stakeholders that many New Zealanders are committed to an economically and environmentally sustainable future, despite the actions of the National government.”
“Australia, the US and Europe are all making climate change a priority, while in New Zealand, National wants to turn back the clock by suspending the ETS and having a committee to look at the whole issue again. It is clear that the National Government has no clear plans in this extremely important policy area.
“This inaction puts at risk kiwi jobs, and has serious potential to hinder investment and harm our tourism industry,” Mr Chauvel said.
“For example, Britain is proposing a tax on long-haul flights to New Zealand. How can we argue against that if we are not seen to be playing our part in addressing climate change?”
“Already, the forestry sector says that investors are pulling out of New Zealand because of the confusion caused by the policies of the National Government. We can ill-afford such a loss of investment and jobs at this time”, Mr Chauvel said.
“So far, the National Party has announced that it will put the Emissions Trading Scheme on hold, resurrected the possibility of a carbon tax (having previously opposed one), scrapped the $1 billion retrofit of housing insulation stopped the phase out of old fashioned inefficient light bulbs, and generally confused everyone with its lack of a plan for a sustainable energy future,” Mr Chauvel said.
ENDS