New Zealand could not deliver on its obligations under the climate change agreement agreed yesterday in Bonn, without a substantial increase in the domestic price of fossil fuels, the Ecologic Foundation said today.

“The Government must now make a commitment to a specific carbon tax, and place it before the public at next year’s election,” said Ecologic’s executive director, Guy Salmon.

“We also need the support of all Opposition parties for this tax.

“If we get a lot of politicking and end up putting the tax decision off again, it will become much more painful for New Zealand to meet its commitments under the Bonn agreement by 2008.”

Mr Salmon said that the problem of emission-intensive factories moving offshore could largely be avoided by exempting from the tax, key industries willing to implement a negotiated greenhouse gas reduction agreement.

He cautioned against any euphoria over provisions in the Bonn agreement, which allow countries to sell carbon credits for expansion of tree plantations.

“It is questionable whether New Zealand can earn carbon credits for planting more radiata pine when the carbon stored in our native forests is declining by 4 percent per decade due to possum damage, which we are failing to control.”

For further information please contact Guy Salmon on 025 201 3033.

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