Does Govt Know Cost of Zero Carbon Act?
Does Govt Know Cost of Zero Carbon Act?
The Government
may have repeated its oil and gas debacle by signing up to a
radical target without considering the consequences, says
ACT Leader David Seymour.
"Documents released under the OIA show that, when the Government committed to a net zero carbon goal in 2017, it did not know the impact the target would have on the economy.
“The Government was told that its 2050 target will require a 'fundamental economic shift'.
"Officials then went on to say: 'we cannot advise, in time for November 2017 Cabinet decisions, on the economic and social impacts.'
"The Government has committed to a goal of net zero carbon without considering any official evidence or analysis. That is massively irresponsible.
"The Government is clearly more focussed on making grand announcements than considering the real-world consequences of its policies.
"ACT believes that polluters should pay, through a carbon tax, for the harm they cause to the environment.
"However, we need to be responsible and impose no more costs on the economy than are necessary”, says Mr Seymour.
ENDS